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j 



IGLO'SAXONS, 
ONWARD! 


A Romance of the Future. 


Benj. Rush Davenport, 


... AUTHOR OF. .. 

“Uncle Sam’s Cabins,” “Best Fifty Books,” 
“ Blue and Gray,” etc. 

HUBBELL PUBLISHING CO. 
CLEVELAND, O., U. S. A. 



A.i^gIo- Saxons, Oi^ward! 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE, 


...BY... 

BENJ. RUSH DAVENPORT. 


CLEVELAND, OHIO, U. S. A. 
HUBBELL PUBLISHING COMPANY. 


1i 

I 


M47 


Copyright, 1898, 

BY 

Wm. H. Beckbr. 


ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 





IWO COPIES RECEIVED. 

2ne! COPY, 
1398. 



Hn /iDemotiam. 


THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO THE 
LOVED AND LAMENTED 

3obn H. Cocfterfll. 

IN AN ASSOCIATION LONG AND HIGHLY 
VALUED BY THE WRITER, WITH THAT 
EMINENT JOURNALIST, THE IDEAS HERE- 
IN CONTAINED WERE SUGGESTED. 


Author 



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CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 

Eagle, Lion and Bear, - 7 

CHAPTER 11. 

A Woman Scorned, - -- -- -- --20 

CHAPTER HI. 

The American President, ------ 30 

CHAPTER IV. 

Will He Remember? - -- -- -- -54 

CHAPTER V. 

“ The Old Story,” 78 

CHAPTER VI. 

America in A. D. 19 — - - - -- -- - 108 


CHAPTER VII. 

PAGE. 

In the Beauty of the Lilies 130 

CHAPTER VIII. 

From Out of the West Came Crusaders, - 158 

CHAPTER IX. 

“ I Love an American Soldier,” - - - - 183 

CHAPTER X. 

Farewell, Fond Hope! ------- 207 

’ CHAPTER XI. 

Duty, Surest Safeguard, ------- 230 

CHAPTER XII. 

Anglo-Saxons, Forward! ------ 250 


CHAPTER I. 


Eagle, Lion and Bear. 

J ^IKE four white swans floating on a sparkling 
golden sea, sat the four white Russian cruisers 
beneath Gibraltar’s sphinx-like mass of armed 
rock. The October sun was sinking below the 
western waves in a flood of glory, burnishing 
the surface of the ocean with its resplendent rays, 
bathing England’s grim stronghold in glorious 
light. 

The proud banner of Great Britain floating 
over this massive symbol of Anglo-Saxon power, 
seemed to gather the reflected glory of the monarch 
of the heavens, until each color in its folds took on 
a brighter hue, waving in meteor splendor defiance 
to all foes. 

On the flagship of the Russian squadron flew the 
royal standard of Russia, as the fleet was bearing 
to the shores of America, His Highness, the Grand 
Duke Vladimar who was carrying the good wishes 
of his royal father to the popular President of 
the United States, who in the preceding November, 
A. D. 19 — , had been unanimously elected chief 
executive of the great republic. 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ON WARD I 


Steaming eastward across the shining waves, six 
ships were slowly moving into port — two men-of- 
war and four troop transports. Just as the last linger- 
ing ray of light shot over the dancing waters, the 
colors of the oncoming fleet burst like opening 
flowers from their mast-heads, and there streamed 
before the eyes of the watchers that flag, symbolic 
of freedom the wide world over. 

The bright stars and broad stripes of America’s 
beauteous banner leaped to the breeze, and seemed 
to wave a greeting to its kindred flag upon the rock 
above, and a gracious gleaming in the mellow 
twilight hovered like a halo around the interwoven 
blending of the colors of the mighty brother 
nations, sprung from that grand ancestor, the Anglo- 
Saxon race. 

A group of officers was watching the approach- 
ing fleet in silent curiosity, from the deck of the 
Russian flagship, and as the national flag of America 
was unfurled, one of the officers exclaimed : 

“Ah! Yankees; I thought so; they carry their 
gaudy colors everywhere now.” 

The speaker was a tall, well-made dark man 
of about thirty years of age, a remarkably handsome 
man. His large dark eyes, prominent, clear-cut 
features would attract attention anywhere, but here, 
the confident air and easy bearing of assured leader- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


ship proclaimed him as the royal passenger of the 
Russian squadron. 

“Yes! Your Highness, had I not seen the flag, 
I would have known of what nation the ships were^ 
from the cheering of the sailors on the English man- 
of-war just ahead of us,” replied one of the party, a 
thin, bent old man whose scant white hair and delicate 
complexion proclaimed him far more the student 
than a son of the sea. 

His sharp gray eyes, deeply sunken under heavy 
white eyebrows, were as keen, hard and piercing as 
points of steel. His pointed snowy beard scarcely 
concealed the cruel, merciless mouth, now wreathed 
in the faintest possible sarcastic smile, as the old man 
watched the expression of annoyance come over 
the handsome face of the Grand Duke as the result 
of this remark. 

Prince Gourkoff, for the old man was that famous 
diplomatist, had grown old in the service of the 
royal house of Russia; now, at the age of sixty- 
three, he presented a living picture of the greatest 
type of the unscrupulous diplomatist that the world 
has ever known — Richelieu. 

Possessing the entire confidence of his royal 
master. Czar Ivan HI., Gourkoff was accompanying 
the young Grand Duke to America in the capacity 
of counselor, friend, companion, that is to all out- 
ward appearance, but in fact he went as a guard, 


10 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


representing the Czar, for the purpose of holding 
Vladimar steady in his obedience in a most distaste- 
ful service, forced upon him by the mandate of his 
regal father. 

As the plot or scheme of the Grand Duke’s visit 
to America had originated within the fertile brain of 
Gourkoff , no better representative could have possibly 
been chosen to see, and force its execution in every 
detail regardless of the feelings or opinions of those 
who were compelled to participate in its per- 
formance. 

The momentary impatience of the Grand Duke 
disappeared as he gazed at the majestic American 
men-of-war, and the clever management of their 
crews as they came to anchor. Turning to the Rus- 
sian Admiral, who was one of the party, he said 
with a frank smile : 

“Well! Admiral, as I am going across an ocean 
to make the acquaintance of a lot of Americans, I 
may as well begin on this side of the water; so invite 
them to dine with us,” and then in a voice only 
heard by Gourkoff, to whom the words were ad- 
dressed, he added, “Allons, Monsieur! I will try to 
do my duty.” 

The prince’s eyes brightened as he softly 
answered: 

“In the name of the Czar I thank Your Highness,” 
and then turning to the Admiral, said : 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


11 


“Do not forget to send invitations to the English 
officers; we will make a love feast of it, John and 
Jonathan.” 

Leaving the Admiral and other officers to execute 
his hospitable instruction, the Grand Duke crossed 
the deck and began pacing back and forth seemingly 
lost in deep meditation. He was shortly joined by 
Gourkoff, who said: 

“It is a most fortunate occurrence, this meeting 
with an American fleet here, as it affords us an 
opportunity to enter under the most favorable cir- 
cumstances upon our campaign.” 

“Say your campaign,” interrupted Vladimar. 
“This whole matter is disgusting and repugnant to 
every sense of honor within me. I have been edu- 
cated as a soldier of Russia, and for the honor and 
glory of the Empire and Crown I would gladly 
shed every drop of blood in my body ; but to force 
upon me services that could only be congenial 
to a conceited, heartless coward, is revolting to 
every manly feeling!” 

“Remember, Your Highness,” replied Gourkoff, 
“it requires often more courage to perform a dis- 
agreeable duty than a dangerous one, beside this 
attempt is the forlorn hope of Russia to break the 
semi-alliance between the British and Americans, 
and who more worthy to lead in such an undertak- 
ing than one of the royal house of Russia?” 


12 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


“But why,” hotly retorted the royal listener, “not 
select some other member of our house? I certainly 
have given no occasion for the assumption that a 
campaign against a woman would be an undertaking 
in which I would either delight or be successful.” 

With a graceful inclination of his body and a 
suave smile, the Prince said: 

“Nature, Your Highness, appreciating the excel- 
lency of the mental jewels she was bestowing, pro- 
vided in your case a fitting casket. No other mem- 
ber of your illustrious family possessed a sufficiently 
attractive person to make the winning of a woman 
quick, sure and lasting, an easy matter; beside, the 
very qualities that make the duty seem unpleasant 
are those that would most surely prove attractive to 
the kind of woman I am told this American is.” 

“Your flattery, Gourkoff,” retorted Vladimar, 
“does not make the dose more palatable. I am to 
play the conceited coxcomb and carpet knight, 
because naturally such a role is not in keeping with 
my character; I am to play upon the ambition of an 
aspiring nobody, to the end that after the object of 
this undignified proceeding is accomplished, I may 
be known as the most dishonorable man in Europe.” 

“Your Highness knows,” exclaimed Gourkoff, 
“that no man living is more sensitive to all that 
concerns the honor of the royal family than my- 
self, but you are also fully aware that the opportunity 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


13 


is approaching for which we have waited so long, 
that is, the advance of the Empire of Russia east- 
ward. England alone confronts us. We have 
detached every friend from her save only the United 
States. 

For years, in fact, since the American-Spanish 
M^ar of 1898, England and America have been 
bound together by a sentimental semi-alliance. 
They have acted so often together since that time 
when danger threatened either one, that we in 
Russia know or feel sure that should Great Britain 
resist our progress eastward, and need help, that the 
Americans would possibly hang in the wind for 
awhile, but in the end, with their absurdly sentimental 
cry, “Blood is thicker than water,” would join 
the English. It is to prevent that possibility, nay 
probability, that has caused the present undertaking.” 

“But Gourkoff,” said the Grand Duke, “why not 
fight both England and America like brave Russians 
and soldiers? I had rather meet the Yankees sword 
in hand than dance around a woman’s fluttering 
flounces, swearing devotion and perjuring my soul.” 

“Your Highness is too well aware of the power of 
the Great Republic to seriously suggest fighting the 
combined forces of England and America,” said 
Gourkoff. 

“In the last fifty years that striped flag of America 
has made its steady progress around the globe, and 


14 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


•wherever planted it has taken root. Hand in hand 
with England, the United States has moved steadily 
forward, carrying out, as they proudly proclaim in 
America, the destiny of the republic. 

^ The teeming population of the States alone, to say 
nothing of its colonies and defendencies, has grown 
to be one hundred and forty million, with countless 
wealth, and to be fair to the Yankees, boundless cour- 
age. Great Britain alone is a most serious matter to 
think of as far as fighting is concerned ; but both of 
the Anglo-Saxon nations joined together present an 
obstacle beyond the power of even the mighty Rus- 
sian Empire. 

No! No! Your Highness, we cannot meet 
sword in hand both these nations. ‘The lion’s 
skin is too short,’ we must make use of the 
fox’s. Detach America from England at any cost, 
or else forever abandon the traditions and hopes of 
Russia.” 

With a sigh of weariness Vladimar replied : 

“Well, enough of the subject for to-night; I am 
heartily sick already of my part of the business, 
before even beginning it. I only hope the young 
woman is somewhat interesting,” and then with an 
amused glance at Gourkoff, the Grand Duke 
continued : 

“And just suppose that I find her charming, and 
fall in love, in fact, with the American; instead of 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


15 


this being a farce, my wily friend Gourkoff, it 
might terminate as a tragedy. Sometimes the most 
reluctant hound in the beginning of the chase proves 
the most persistent in pursuit, and hardest to tear 
away from its prey.” 

Gourkoff’s reply came in almost a tone of alarm. 

“For Heaven sake! Your Highness, do not enter- 
tain such a possibility ; you are too near the throne 
to even dream of such an absurdity, as being in 
earnest in your pretended attachment to a plain 
American woman,” Vladimar laughingly said as 
he left Gourkoff and walked to his cabin. 

“Good-night, Prince; don’t pass a sleepless night 
over the danger, as there is nothing to fear.” 

However the Grand Duke’s careless assurance did 
not seem to dispel the unlooked for, and unthought 
of peril in the mind of Prince Gourkoff. Medita- 
tively he paced the deck long after the Grand Duke 
had left him. The jesting suggestion had created 
a danger that careful and cautious as the old states- 
man was, had escaped his calculations. 

“Suppose he should end by being in earnest?” he 
kept repeating to himself. 

Every scene of boyish tenacity in the life 
of Vladimar came vividly before him. Gourkoff 
was familiar with every detail in the lives of 
the Czarovitch Peter, and this his younger 
brother Vladimar. Whereas Peter was weak and 


16 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


delicate from babyhood, Vladimar was vigorous and 
active; Peter was easily influenced, and persuaded, 
while Vladimar was as hard to divert from a course 
that he had adopted as an ocean current. Brave, 
frank and manly, Vladimar had early demonstrated 
the fact that he inherited a large share of the 
self-will and independence of his ancestors. 

Unexpected peril is always the most terrifying, 
and as Prince Gourkoff recalled the precarious condi- 
tion of the health of the childless Czarovitch Peter, 
and that the seemingly perfect plot that he himself 
had suggested, and persuaded the Czar to adopt, might 
terminate in a most destructive matrimonial entangle- 
ment with the next heir to the crown, he fairly shivered 
as visions of Siberia passed before him, and mutter- 
ing to himself for consolation, “It’s an off chance 
only,” would add sadly, “but the off chance proved 
fatal to Napoleon.” 

The picture of the woman that Gourkoff took from 
his desk when he entered his cabin, did not reassure 
him nor bring any consolation to his somewhat 
alarmed mind. 

Adjusting carefully the powerful glasses that 
age and much use of his eyes compelled him to wear, 
he held the photograph of a woman close to the 
lamp which burned brightly in his cabin ; he gazed 
long and thoughtfully at it, studying each feature 
portrayed, but the contemplation was not comforting. 


I 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


17 


Seating himself, he held the cardboard in his hand 
and thought of how much depended upon the char- 
acter of the woman the picture represented. 

Some faces are beautiful, some good, some grand. 

The face that the Russian diplomatist gazed at, 
was beautiful, good and grand. Nature, that fault- 
less artist, had made a model of nobility, honor and 
purity, and so perfect was that great master’s work 
that to describe and give detail of the creation were 
as impossible as to catch the light and shading on the 
clouds, or to describe the music of the sighing sum- 
mer breeze, to imitate the perfume of the rose or lily. 

At last replacing the picture, Gourkoff sought to 
dispel the idea of danger born of the thoughtless jest 
of the Grand Duke in sleep, and as he closed his 
eyes he murmured, “The off chance shall not win 
this time,” and so fell into a restless sleep, disturbed 
only now and again by the puffing of the steam- 
launches passing back and forth between the British 
and the American men-of-war. 

Had Prince Gourkoff been aware of that, that was 
doing around him, his tranquility would certainly 
now have been increased by the knowledge. 

Formality is nowhere more strictly adhered to than 
in the navies of the world, and the British and 
American naval officers are not the least punctilious 
in the naval service. 

In dealing with foreigners, every rule of the ethics 


18 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


of the naval profession is enforced; but between 
themselves, years of joint service, where the English 
and American fleets had been united for mutual 
benefit, had obliterated much of the formal etiquette 
observed when the ships of different nations meet. 

In fact, Commodore Adams, in command of the 
American squadron that had arrived at Gibraltar that 
evening, and Sir John Colquitt, in command of the 
British ship St. George, lying in port, had not only 
shared many dangers together, but were still more 
strongly attached to each other, for after the success- 
ful operations of the combined fleets of the two 
nations in Asiatic waters, many years before 
this bright October evening, the then Lieutenant 
Adams, U. S. N., had invited his English friend and 
comrade, the then plain Lieutenant Colquitt, of the 
British Navy, to visit him at his home in Phila- 
delphia, which invitation the British officer not only 
accepted, but took advantage of to carry off Adams’ 
lovely sister, who now, as Lady Colquitt, adorned 
Sir John’s beautiful English home. 

Therefore there was scant respect paid by Sir John 
to the etiquette of sea when he realized that the 
American flagship was the U. S. S. McKinley, and 
that his old comrade and brother-in-law was in com- 
mand. Messages quickly passed between the Com- 
modores, and that very evening the two old bronzed 
sea-fighters were seated in tlie cabin of one ship 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


19 


dining, and over the viands talking of the ones 
at home, dear to both alike. 

“And how is my namesake Colquitt getting along 
at Annapolis? Will he do credit to the name Adams, 
and be like you, a student, or raise the very devil as 
his godfather did when he was a cadet?” would ask 
the hearty old English sailor. 

“When is Betty and the girls coming home to 
Philadelphia to pay us that long promised yisit?” 
would inquire the American, and so, like the good 
fellows and old comrades that they were, until late 
into the night they found lots of mutually interesting 
subjects of conversation, and many toasts were given 
not dearer to the proposer than to him who listened. 

Many of the young officers of the fleets had also 
served together, at one time or another, in some 
quarter of the globe, so that the ward-room, as well 
as the cabin, told the story of the mutual ties of 
interest and affection holding men of one blood and 
language that strongly to each other, as to cause 
etiquette to be forgotten. 

Prince Gourkoff, in your dreams, as the words so 
often heard in America and England pass through 
your brain, let incredulity cause a sneer to come 
upon your crafty countenance, but none the less 

“Blood is thicker than water.” 


CHAPTER 11. 


A Woman Scorned. 

I^AME the hum and roar of restless Paris as the 
^ drowsy droning of bees, penetrating to that 
distant section of seclusion off the Bois de Bologne, 
sacred to the wealth and aristocracy of the gay 
French capital. 

Through the open windows of Prince Gourkoff’s 
Paris mansion (the September weather was spring- 
like in its balmy softness) , the perfume of the autumn 
flowers floated around the rose-colored couch 
whereon Madam la Princess was reclining. 

My Lady’s boudoir was all rose-tinted, the dra- 
peries in different shades of rose color, from the pale 
pinkish hue near the petals, to the darkest ruby red 
of the outer leaves of the flower. 

Somewhere in the jungles of far-off India imagine, 
in some sultry spot where wild flowers grow in riot- 
ous profusion, a bower of matted roses, and there 
nestled noiselessly watching, waiting, half-sleeping 
through the hot noon hour, a soft, silk-like, smooth, 
beautiful-terrible-leopardess . 

With eyes of flame, liow so nearly sleeping that 
the almost closed lids leave but a line through 
which to catch a glimpse of that hell of wild passion 
therein pent-up and slumbering. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


21 


The sunshine falling through the rose-bushes fleck- 
ing and fluttering over the skin so shining, sending 
shadows down each lithe limb, so full of intense 
energy, and sensual passion, that in deepest sleep the 
supple muscles quiver. 

One ray of September sunshine caught in 
Madam’s soft, dark tresses, has called to life the 
golden bronze buried in the dark mass of fluffy curls 
that shades the wide, low, white brow of the dreamy 
princess. 

With half-closed eyes, shooting little gleamings 
from the subdued fires internally burning, face so 
beautiful, features so faultless, that it seems some old 
Grecian sculptor’s stolen statue, save only that the 
full round glistening neck is somewhat too full, and 
the head, back of the pink shell-like ears, is wide, 
quite wide, where phrenologists find passion and 
destructiveness. 

The waving of the curtain makes ripples of sun- 
light run up and down the sheen of the silken folds of 
Madam’s gown so soft and clinging — revealing the 
outline of each limb so round, so full, so grandly 
modeled, that voluptuous perfection is superlatively 
presented. 

The involuntary quivering and trembling of the 
muscles makes movement beneath the shimmering 
surface of the web-like garment, though no move- 


22 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


ment of the limbs is making, lithe limbs so instinct 
with electric life and full of intense feeling. 

Terribly beautiful is this woman, so full of the 
sinuous involuntary motion of consuming passion, as 
she lies basking in the sunlight and the shadow, all 
rose-surrounded, recalling the picture of the leop- 
ardess in the jungle. 

There was a rustle of the curtains of the apart- 
ment, and a maid appeared. The Princess said as 
she heard, rather than saw her. 

“Well, Marie, what is it?” 

“A telegraphic message for Madam la Princess.” 

Like a flash of light, rapid and feline as the leop- 
ardess, and the Princess was standing, had seized 
and opened the message. One line was all that 
was written and she read. 

“They leave Odessa next week. Will stop at 
Gibraltar. 

Standing eager and expectant, the Princess was 
magnificent, tall, grandly developed, the swelling 
curves and lines of perfectly proportioned bust and 
hips, their beauty accentuated rather than concealed 
by her lacy wrappings. The loose sleeves falling away 
from her arms as she grasped and tore open tne 
envelope, displayed limbs as round, as firm and white 
as if of ivory, skin so fair as to glisten lilce the 
rarest creamy satin. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


28 


“You may go, Marie!” 

The Princess almost panted with the emotion that 
the telegram had created. 

“Pardon, Madam, a man has been waiting for an 
hour, but I refused to disturb you for him.” 

“Who is he?” inquired the Princess, a note of 
annoyance in the question. 

“He gave this card. Madam, and said that you 
would receive him.” 

The Madam took the card and glanced at it, and 
with a start of joy exclaimed: 

“The very man! Let him come in.” 

“Madam does not wish to have him brought 
here,” said the maid in an inquiring tone and added; 

“He seems a very common sort of person.” 

“I said let him come in — I meant here!” angrily 
replied the Princess. While the maid hurried away 
on her errand, the Princess remained standing, 
nervously turning the limp card in her hand, repeat- 
ing softly: 

“I will do it; I will do it though it kill me.” 

The man who followed the maid into Madam’s 
boudoir was not of prepossessing appearance, short, 
thin, wiry, dark, an Italian plainly, slightly grizzled 
hair and beard. The thing that was most noticeable 
about the man was the strained, nervous, intent gaze 
of the eager eyes, in which fanaticism and insanity 
seemed struggling, and by their strife causing the 


24 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


creation of internal fires that were consuming the 
man’s very being. 

“You may go, Marie,” said Madam, as the man 
entered. Then carefully closing and locking the 
door, she turned to her visitor, saying : 

“Well, Mortillo! What is the occasion of your 
seeking me?” 

“Vera! I have come from the Tribunal.” 

The man’s thin, scarlet lips seemed to blister and 
grow more vividly carmine, as the hot breath 
scorched them coming from the fiery furnace within, 
when the words were spoken. 

“Since you became a member of our holy order,” 
he continued with such intensity of manner that the 
very room seemed to grow heated, “no opportunity 
has offered for the performance of a sacred duty by 
the order, but at last” — and he fairly gasped out the 
words in gladness — “we have that for which we 
have waited, an occasion when and* where justice 
may be executed, and we want funds to prepare the 
festival of death. You and yours are ours. I am sent 
with power from the Tribunal to demand one hun- 
dred thousand francs from you.” 

He drew from his pocket a paper and extended it 
toward the listening woman. 

“Who is the criminal to be executed?” asked the 
Princess, without looking at or taking the extended 
paper. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


25 


“Peter Romanoff, sometimes known as the Czare- 
vitch of Russia!” replied Mortillo. 

“He goes to Carlsbad in October ; our plans are all 
matured. We will succeed in our holy mission, for no 
detail is missing,” continued the Italian. 

Something in the beautiful face caused Mortillo to 
stop suddenly. 

“Is it to accomplish the death of that poor, weak 
creature Peter for which you want money?” sneer- 
ingly asked the Princess. 

“I pity the wise Tribunal! The hand of death 
already rests on the victim. All the gold in the Ural 
Mountains could not purchase a lease of five years 
of life for him, and notwithstanding that, the Tribunal 
decrees the danger of his execution to its brothers, 
when time will so shortly perform that duty,” 

“But,” broke in the fanatic, “natural death does 
not strike terror to the tyrants, and does not advance 
the Holy Cause of Anarchy.” 

“Stop! Enough! Not one franc will I furnish 
for the purpose,” exclaimed the lady, and the red 
tide mounts higher and higher up the shapely neck 
of the speaker. Eyes so limpid with love’s potent 
elixir grow brighter and brighter. Beware of that 
brightness. Tribunal of Anarchy! 

“Vera, you must! Remember your oath, and the 
vengeance of the brotherhood if you fail to keep it,” 


26 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


retorted the man in the rash madness of infatuated 
fanaticism. 

The leopardess springs from its couch among the 
roses, cast aside is somnolent stillness, quick life, 
action, concealment gone, with a rush all is over! 

Prince Gourkoff’s wife, with the elastic, pliant 
movement of the feline family, is close to the now 
excited theorist, has grasped and torn the paper 
that he has been extending, to fragments, eyes all 
blazing with the ferocity of the Tartar blood within 
her beautiful body. 

“You must! to me, Vera Teska, Princess Gour- 
koff!” The words came with a menacing, pur- 
ring sound from the hot, full, luscious lips which, 
parting, disclosed faultless pearly teeth, now closed so 
sharply that they seemed to bite each word uttered. 

“Listen, Mortillo!” said the Princess as her firm, 
blue-veined fingers clasped the dusky wrist of the 
southron. 

“I know nothing, care nothing for your so-called 
holy cause ! I needed faithful, trustworthy assas- 
sins. I joined your band of murderers to secure 
them; Anarchy for any purpose, but assassination 
has been dead for fifty years. There are no secrets 
among us. You know that at one time I wanted 
Gourkoff ‘Removed.’ ” 

The sudden outburst had so stunned the anarchist. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


27 


He, speechless, could only bow his head in 
acquiescence. 

“Now listen why I wished to be rid of Gourkoff,” 
continued the Russian Princess, her voice almost 
inaudible from suppressed emotion. 

“I loved a man as only a woman like me can love, 
and that but once. My passion had consumed my 
very soul. I could have found the courage to have 
joined the fiends in hell to have gratified the cravings 
of my heart.” She paused, and panting, pressed 
both hands to her bosom. 

After a few moments in which the man and woman 
intently gazed at each other, he with wonder, she 
with contempt, she continued. 

“Fifteen years ago, when only eighteen years of 
age, I became the wife of the brilliant diplomatist. 
Prince Gourkoff. Knowing nothing of the heart’s 
wild desires, I was attracted by the fame and posi- 
tion of the Prince. My immense fortune, which, 
settled upon myself, furnished the means, my hus- 
band’s position provided the way, to gratify my every 
fancy.” 

Mortillo interrupted the flood of words pouring 
from the lips of the now thoroughly aroused and 
excited woman, by saying: 

“Yes, Vera, we of the brotherhood know all that, 
and recognized years ago the debt we owe you, in 


28 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


bringing to our holy cause your influence and 
fortune.” 

“Man! Are you a fool? I have said I cared 
nothing for your crazy, fanatical cause. I wanted 
Gourkoff ‘Removed’ and was ready to pay the price of 
your band’s services,” disdainfully exclaimed the 
Princess, and with a deprecating sweep of her stat- 
uesque arm she seemed to brush aside the cause 
Mortillo called holy, and with an evident effort con- 
trolling her excitement, continued: 

“I am telling you what you already know, Mor- 
tillo, and will add to my story that, that you do not 
know, only because I need you and your murderous 
associates now more than I ever did, and to perpe- 
trate your insane deed of killing the Czarovitch, you 
need my money, and we had best understand each 
other before an arrangement is entered into. Now 
sit down and listen.” 

She pointed to a chair, upon which the anarchist 
dropped. She still standing, said: 

“You broke in upon my story. In St. Peters- 
burg, in the Court Circle, where we moved, many 
courtly, gallant men sought to win the favor of the 
young, and people say handsome, wife of the some- 
what aged diplomatist who could spare but little time 
from the council table for social functions. Among 
all the number not one aroused the slightest throb- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


29 

bing of the pent-up passion of my wildly longing 
soul, until — ” 

And the Russian lady paused as if remembrance 
had overcome her. Going to a table, she drank 
hurriedly of some cordial, and then more calmly re- 
sumed her story: 

“My husband introduced into our palace a mere 
boy, a youth of seventeen, Vladimar, Grand Duke 
of Russia, just returned from a tour with his tutor 
through Italy, who was with the Czar’s permission to 
pay a visit to the Czar’s most trusty servant. Prince 
GourkofT.” 

She ceased speaking for a moment, then proceeded. 

“My heart had found its king, its one desire, the 
fullness of joy. I knew when I first heard his voice, 
felt the touch of his hand. Oh! God! How well I 
knew it ! I loved him as a woman loves her lord, as 
a tigress loves her mate. He regarded me only as a 
boy does a woman older than himself, the wife of 
the faithful friend of his family. Oh! the agony of 
those my first hours of loving!” 

The recollection caused her to cease speaking, and 
something of the fierceness forsook her glittering 
eyes, as speaking almost as if in self-communion, she 
said: 

“We of Tartar blood know how to wait, and watch, 
in love as well as war. I waited, waited for the 
coming of the stronger passion of mature manhood^ 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


when nature in its flood-tide hour breaks resistlessly 
the barriers raised by honor, duty, religion. 

“In my dreams by night and day, sleeping and 
waking, for years, while Vladimar was coming to 
that glorious manhood’s hour that I thought would 
reward my waiting, I gloated over my joy in 
anticipation. 

“As one regards the growing plant and loves and 
tends it, hoping for the fruit that will reward at 
maturity the care and attention, so did I.” 

Again the Princess moved to the table and fllled a 
glass of the cordial. Drinking it thirstily she 
returned to the place where she had been standing 
before the Italian, and said: 

“At last I thought the hour near, and in my mad 
desire that no obstacle should stand between me and 
my joy, no matter how trifling might be the incon- 
venience, I wished myself rid of Gourkoff. Know- 
ing how well he was guarded and protected by His 
Majesty’s soldiers, I conceived that political ‘Re- 
moval’ (as you call it) alone was possible. I sought 
your brotherhood for that purpose solely, Mortillo, 
not for your accursed ‘Holy Cause.’ Hear well, and 
know my meaning. I still am yours, but as from 
the first, not for your cause, but because I want a 
man ‘Removed.’ ” 

A change came over the beautiful features. Hell 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


81 


and the leopardess sprang into her countenance, as 
she almost in choking accent continued: 

“You know that the assassination of Gourkoff, for 
which I furnished the funds, was unavoidably long 
delayed. In the meantime chance braught Vladimar 
and myself together in Naples. God ! How I remember 
that moon-light night in May — that Italian sky. Alone 
with my love, the intoxicating, balmy air embracing 
us, the hush, the stillness of the hour, dreamy music 
drowning every restraining sense of duty, or honor, 
I, lost to all save my heart’s longing and long loving, 
— one moment Mortillo!” she cried, gasping as if in 
pain. 

With a straining struggle suppressing the rising 
wrath within her heaving bosom, she said: 

“I, drunk with emotion, I, Princess Gourkoff, the 
craved object of kings and countless nobles, in that 
hour, forgetting all save my long delayed mating, I, 
all unsolicited, without wooing, madly clasped the 
loved mate of my long sweet dreaming, and — ” 

She fairly hurled the words from her as with flam- 
ing face she sprang close to the now excited enthusi- 
ast of anarchism, grasping and fairly raising him 
from his chair as she hissed: 

“Was scorned! My love rejected! My embraces 
repulsed! My arms, those so many gallant men had 
yearned to fill, cast away from where they rested, 
my bosom all suffused and warm with love’s mad» 


82 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


ness torn from the resting place I had dreamed of. 
“Love,” “duty,” “honor,” “faith of a friend of the 
family,” these words, and contempt was the answer 
of the fruit of the plant I had tended; the fulfillment 
of what I had hoped for.” 

Out of breath and exhausted the now furious wo- 
man was for an instant silent, then almost in a 
w'hisper, added: 

“My love was dead! Hate! Deathless hate filled 
my heart. I secured the recall of the decree for the 
‘Removal’ of Gourkoff. I swore by every sacred 
emblem of the Church of Russia to ‘Remove’ the 
man who had scorned my love, and me. So guarded 
is the royal household that no opportunity offered as 
long as Vladimar remained in Russia. A decree of 
‘Removal’ by the Order was useless. Now! Now! 
Thank heaven or hell, all is altered! The time has 
come to glut my wish for revenge, and the man to 
do the deed is here, and the man — ^you, Mortillo — 
bravest and surest assassin of anarchy’s worshipers, 
ask me for money that helpless, dying Peter may be 
‘Removed.’ ” 

“Calm yourself, Vera!” cried the now excited 
anarchist. 

“Procure a decree for Vladimar’s ‘Removal’ later. 
His death must follow Peter’s, as then he is next heir 
to the tyrant’s throne. Give me the money for the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


83 


expense of Peter’s ‘Removal’ and Vladimar’s death 
is assured, your vengeance certain.” 

“Not one franc of mine shall be expended in your 
project unless now, Yes! Now! I am revenged upon 
the man who scorned me, see !” she exclaimed holding 
toward the fanatic the telegram that had come that 
day. 

“A trusty agent of mine, one of the Grand Duke’s 
valets, telegraphed me from Odessa to-day, Gourkoff 
and Vladimar leave Odessa with a squadron of the 
Black Sea fleet. They pass by permission through 
the Dardanelles en route for America. They will 
stop at Gibraltar ; it is there that the attempt must be 
made to ‘Remove’ the Grand Duke.” 

“But this cannot be done without a decree of the 
Tribunal,” interposed Mortillo. 

“Then you do it yourself,” eagerly exclaimed the 
Princess. 

Mortillo ’s eyes sparkled with the insanity born of 
that strange infatuation of the devotees to Nihilism. 

“Will you furnish the hundred thousand francs for 
Peter’s ‘Removal’ if . I agree myself to suppress the 
other one?” asked the nervous, agitated Italian. 

“Yes! Yes! and more. I trust you in this im- 
plicitly, my comrade,” said the titled lady. Going 
to a table, on which were pen and paper, she hastily 
wrote a few lines, then saying as she handed them 
to Mortillo : 


84 : 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


“Here is an order on my banker for two hundred 
thousand francs. Do with half what has been de- 
creed, keep half yourself and ‘Remove’ the man I 
hate.” 

The man seized the paper, crying in ecstasy of joy 
at the success of his mission to the Princess. 

“It shall be done, Vera! I myself shall do it. 
Vladimar shall never leave Gibraltar alive!” 

The woman flashed upon him a gaze so sharp as 
to penetrate the remotest recesses of his soul and as 
if satisfied said : 

“It is a contract made then between us. I have 
done my part; do yours. I leave the means to you.” 

She extended her hand which the fevered fingers 
of the half-crazed zealot clasped, and for a minute 
they stood thus looking at each other. 

“Remember, my friend,” said the woman. “You 
carry the lives of the whole brotherhood in your 
keeping, for if you fail me — well! no matter — you 
must not fail! Now, adieu! Go! Send no word 
to me. I will learn all from the public journals.” 

Waiting, standing, as the man left her until the 
sound of his departing footsteps died away in the 
distance, the tall figure of the splendid creature began 
swaying back and forth, with hands extended as if 
half wishing to recall her messenger of death. 
Slowly the color called up by her fury receded from 
her face. It became livid, the flashing eyes grew 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


85 


dim, then closed, and with one wild, heart-rending 
scream, fell with a crash upon the floor. 

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” nor 
hath the heart of woman any feeling so deeply rooted 
as love. Let love be ruthlessly uprooted, and the 
strongest nature will cry out in anguish as love is 
torn from the heart it has grown in, and with its 
tendrils encircled. 


CHAPTER III. 


The American Piiesident. 

popularity of the new President, who in 
March A. D. 19 — became the Executive of 
the Great Republic, was unparalleled in the history 
of the United States with the single exception of the 
universal love of the people of the country for the 
first President, Washington. 

Even the immortal Lincoln had found opposition, 
and that, too, after for four years exhibiting qualities 
of such greatness, fortitude and patriotism as must 
have impressed even the most prejudiced. 

Many changes had taken place, both internal and 
external, in the affairs of the United States, in the 
years that intervened between the election of Abra- 
ham Lincoln and John Morrison, the present 
President. 

Much that had created bitterness in the political 
struggles of the era of Lincoln had entirely dis- 
appeared. 

The people of the Union had become homogene- 
ous. Prejudices born of intense earnestness, but 
accompanied with ignorance, had become obliterated. 

New hope, new ambition had produced a change 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


87 


of character in the whole people. Men’s minds 
became interested in greater affairs than had occu- 
pied them in former years. 

John Morrison had been elected to the high office 
of President of the United States by the unanimous 
vote of the Electoral College, and of far greater sig- 
nificance, by almost the entire individual vote of the 
citizens, a few scattered fanatics, still clinging to old 
obsolete fancies, alone voting against the most popu- 
lar candidate for the presidency since the father of 
his country, George Washington. 

This remarkable result had been produced by a 
combination of circumstances which had been evolved 
by the irresistible trend of events following the 
American-Spanish war of 1898. 

As certain temperature, moisture and soil tend to 
produce the growth of certain vegetation, so a given 
set of surroundings — national atmosphere — cause a 
certain type of man to appear. 

John Morrison was the natural product of changed 
conditions in the national life of the Union, caused 
by the abandonment of that policy of isolation, so 
long and tenaciously held by the Great Republic. 

Forced to a course of action as war measures dur- 
ing 1898 which was directly opposite to the long 
established national policy of seclusion, a new vista 
of such grandeur and glory was presented before 
the nervous, restless Americans, who had grown 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


irritable by years of forced inaction and placid pros- 
perity, that the old policies were powerless arguments 
to close the curtain upon the inviting view. 

Isolation! Seclusion! Effeminating inaction! 
were thrust aside as unworthy of the race and nation. 
Anglo-Saxons, Onward! became the watchword of 
the Americans in the closing years of the nineteenth 
century. 

Such were the sentiments impregnating the very air 
breathed by John Morrison in the home of his boy- 
hood on the fertile prairies of Illinois — for like 
almost all of America’s great presidents, Morrison was 
a farmer’s son, and spent the early years of his life 
where nature speaks to man in every rustle of the 
leaves, and courts close communion with her great- 
est handiwork by the very solitude of the situation. 

Morrison came of good, plain, ordinary American 
people, neither very rich and learned nor very poor 
and ignorant — just the average found anywhere 
among the people of the Union. There was no remark- 
able difference between the home life of the future 
president, and thousands of other boys throughout the 
country — he attended the ordinary public school in 
the district where he lived — worked, played, studied 
and thought as boys usually do in America, with the 
single exception that patriotism and the glory of the 
nation were all-absorbing ideas with the boy. 

A few years prior to the American-Spanish war. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


89 


the youth of the United States were accustomed to 
hear older people with whom they associated, gener- 
ally discuss politics. 

Fathers were either earnest Republicans or zealous 
Democrats, Protectionists or Free Traders, Gold or 
Silver men, and they were excitable and easily 
aroused to fiery action by contradiction, as if the 
very existence of the nation depended upon the con- 
version of every man in it to one idea. 

The events of the war of 1898 had changed all of 
this as if by magic. 

Petty differences and minor questions sunk into 
obscurity and were forgotten. Just as some persons 
are drowned in their own baths, so the differences 
existing between Americans became merged in 
America’s glory. 

As the Roman Republic, as Republican France, 
after the Revolution, so with the Great Republic of the 
Western Hemisphere after the war of 1898. “Glory 
and Onward” became the guiding sentiment of the 
nation. 

The captured territory in the war of 1898, after 
peace was restored, remaining in the hands of the 
American government, had offered a vent or safety- 
valve to the restless, enterprising young men of the 
nation, who prior to this happy relief had begun to 
feel crowded and grow restless, adopting all kinds 
of visionary and dangerous doctrines, in their effort 


40 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


to find a panacea for an over-abundance of energy 
and consequent unrest. 

By the capture of the Spanish islands the United 
States found itself compelled to enter upon a larger 
policy, and take its natural position among the 
nations of the earth as one of the great powers. 

God had greatly blessed the United States in its 
early existence as a nation. He had, in His all- 
wise providence, entrusted many talents in its keep- 
ing, and He would surely require an accounting. 

Such was the view taken by the wise administra- 
tion in charge of the affairs of the government at the 
conclusion of the Spanish war, and that it would be 
manifestly contrary to all that was righteous, to resist 
the obvious destiny for which the All- wise brought 
the nation into being to accomplish. 

Hence, dating from 1898, the expansion and ex- 
tension of America’s influence, power, wealth and 
territory had been phenomenal, so that young John 
Morrison heard and read of the growing greatness of 
his country constantly. 

The press, pulpit and politicians ceased discussing 
all kinds of “isms” and gave attention to the all- 
absorbing subject of interest to the people. 

Morrison secured an appointment as a cadet after 
the usual competitive examination, and entered the 
West Point Military Academy. 

He was a hard student and was graduated, hold- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


41 


ing a high position in his class. He received a com- 
mission in the Engineering Corps and was assigned to 
duty along the North Atlantic coast, assisting in the 
work of perfecting the national fortifications. 

The young officer, though by no means a military 
Adonis, possessed the well set up figure that is usual 
with the West Point men. Being a very tall, large- 
framed man, his appearance was commanding, which, 
with a thoughtful countenance and studious habit of 
mind, gave to his manner somewhat more dignity 
than was pleasing to the fair women of the wealthy 
cities of New York and Boston, where his duties as 
engineer officer called him. 

However, as an officer of the U. S. army, he had 
the entree into the best circles of society, and re- 
ceived the usual attentions and invitations. 

Among the many beautiful women whom he met, 
quiet Helen Vanness was the fairest to him, and the 
dignified, stalwart young soldier was the realization 
of Helen’s dream of the only kind of man whom she 
would have for her husband. 

Helen Vanness had been courted, her hand sought 
after by many ; for not only was she endowed by 
nature with beauty and all those qualities of charac- 
ter that make women attractive to men, but she pos- 
sessed also the immense fortune of her father, that 
he, in the great confidence he felt in the wisdom 
and judgment of his motherless daughter, had left at 


42 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


his death to her, free and untrammeled by trusts. 

So notorious had become the chase of fortune- 
hunters, after Helen Vanness and her millions — for 
lords and nobles had humbly placed their titles at 
the American girl’s feet — that when Morrison found 
his love reciprocated, and the happiness was his to win 
the priceless jewel of a good woman’s heart, he 
begged and finally obtained Helen’s consent to an 
arrangement settling her fortune upon her children, 
and that during the life of her husband Helen 
should use her entire income in charitable work, giv- 
ing her husband the honor of supporting his wife. 

Helen’s consent was reluctantly given only when 
“her soldier” told her that it affected his honor to 
have it so. 

When, after the marriage, society ascertained that 
the wealthy Helen Vanness intended to live only in 
the manner and with the expense that her husband’s 
salary could afford, society and the world were 
shocked at first, then smiled and exclaimed : 

Ridiculous ! 

Absurd ! 

When the prying press of the country learned of 
these particulars (for the Vanness fortune was 
famous and so consequently was the marriage), and 
gave them to the public, Morrison’s acquaintances 
cried: 

“He is crazy! He is a fool!” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


But the American people applauded the act and 
admired the man. 

Thus first was the young lieutenant brought before 
the public. 

In the years that followed Morrison’s marriage, 
step by step he won his way up the military ladder 
of promotion until, when the one daughter, little 
Helen, that had been sent to this happy couple, was 
five years of age time found him a colonel of artillery. 

It was then that a combination of the continental 
powers of Europe declared war against Great Britain. 

The United States government remained a passive 
spectator until the cable flashed the information, that 
a fleet of the powers was on its way to make an 
attack upon Canada. 

The administration at Washington promptly noti- 
fied the foes of England, that the United States 
could not permit an attack upon British possession in 
the Western Hemisphere, and that in event such an 
attack was made, the government at Washington 
would construe the same as a declaration of war 
against the United States. 

The European powers attempted to secure delay 
by diplomatic representations, but Congress in- 
structed the President to utilize the forces of the 
Union to repel any attempted invasion of Canada. 

The British government had for so many years 
relied confidently upon the gratitude of the Ameri- 


44 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


cans, for acts of kindness performed by the English 
in America’s hour of need, that only an exceedingly 
small force of British regulars was kept in Canada. 

Therefore England was caught off her guard by 
the sudden and unexpected expedition of the allies 
to the Dominion. 

Without an hour’s delay, after receiving instruc- 
tions from Congress, the President hurried Federal 
troops across the border into Canada, to join hands 
with the brave Canadian militia. 

The Canadian government, however, in the usual 
bull-dog Anglo-Saxon way, was preparing, single- 
handed and alone, independently of the Imperial 
Government, to fight all Europe in defence of their 
land. 

When the Federal soldiers came pouring across the 
lakes, such a welcome was accorded them as “a 
friend in need” always receives. 

There was no surprise expressed, however. 

“We expected to see the stars and stripes as soon 
as foreign brutes started for our side of the water,” 
was the universal expression of our neighbors. 

For such was, and had been for years, the well- 
founded faith of the Canadians, as well as the Im- 
perial Government in what the Republic ought to do, 
and in the hour of need would do. 

Colonel Morrison, in command of his regiment of 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


45 


artillery, was rushed north from Nesv York, where 
he had been stationed for some time, to Halifax. 

Upon Morrison’s command arriving at Halifax, it 
was assigned to a detached position in one of the 
recently constructed fortifications. 

Within twenty-four hours the enemy’s fleet ap- 
peared, and the bombardment of the defences began 
with such fury as the world had never known before. 

Morrison had raised the American flag together 
with the British banner upon his part of the line of 
defences. The position held by his regiment being 
an exposed one, the enemy easily detected the kin- 
dred colors flying there. 

The fact of the intervention of the United States 
was unknown to the commander of the expedition, 
who had had no opportunity of communicating with 
the allies since sailing from Europe. 

The unexpected spectacle of the American flag 
flying with the British over the Halifax fortification, 
seemed to arouse a tempest of wrath and indignation. 

“Yankee impudence and perfidy must be rebuked.” 

A perfect hail-storm of shot and shell was poured 
upon Morrison’s devoted detachment. 

First one flag and then the other would fall, shot 
down by the fast flying missiles. 

Morrison, with the same quiet dignity that marked 
the man in the salons of New York, would mount 


46 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


the parapet and replace the flags, allowing no other 
to attend to that dangerous duty. 

After hours of thunderous cannonading, when the 
guns of the fortifications had simply been ground to 
pieces and silenced, an attempt was made by the 
foreigners to effect a landing and gain a foothold 
upon that soil that is sacred alike to Canadian and 
American. 

Morrison’s men dragged the light guns that they 
had brought from the States, and which had been 
useless before, forward, and in a deluge of death- 
dealing iron rain, whirled them into position on the 
shore. 

Destruction met the on-coming launches loaded 
with the^enemy! 

No foreign foot ever touched the land! 

Morrison had attached both flags to one pole, and 
carrying it himself, had directed the movements of 
his men. 

The attack was repulsed. Maimed, broken and 
beaten the fleet of the enemy retired, seeking easier 
game along the American coast of the Union, but, 
however, only to fall in with British and American 
men-of-war. 

The few not captured or sunk, harried, beaten and 
demoralized, were only too glad to escape whence 
they came. 

This brief war ending. Colonel John Morrison 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


47 


received a vote of thanks from the ,Congress of the 
United States, together with complimentary resolu- 
tions from the Dominion of Canada and the Imperial 
Government. 

The Imperial Ruler of the British Empire pre- 
sented the now Brigadier-General Morrison (for he 
had been promoted for gallantry), a medal upon 
which was engraved the two flags upon a single 
pole, as he had borne them. 

Among the rank and file of the army, he was ever 
afterward dubbed affectionately “Old two flag.” 

But praise and promotion was robbed of all pleasure 
for the brave officer, for death that had hovered long 
over his devotedly loved wife, only delayed its final 
bidding until she had realized the happiness of 
knowing that her husband’s courage and conduct 
was appreciated by all men speaking the English 
language. 

The Vanness fortune, upon the death of Mrs. Mor- 
rison, was left in trust for little Helen, to be trans- 
ferred to her when she became twenty-one years of 
age, the income to accumulate and be invested by 
the trustees until that time ; General Morrison being 
unwilling to appear charitable by using the income 
of his wife’s fortune in works of mercy. 

After the death of his dearly loved wife all of 
Morrison’s affection was concentrated upon his 


48 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! ‘ 


daughter Helen. He lived and thought only of her, — 
and his countr3^’s glory. 

For many years during the childhood of his 
daughter he was assigned to commands within the 
Union, thus enabling him to have his child constantly 
with him and to supervise her education. 

When Helen Morrison was nineteen years of age, 
General Morrison was ordered to South America, to 
take command of the division of the Federal army 
stationed in the Argentine, to protect that republic 
from interference by the Italian government. 

The Italian emigrants to the Argentine, who had 
settled in large numbers in that republic, had at- 
tempted to overthrow the government, had pro- 
claimed it an Italian province, and had invited aid 
from the King of Italy. 

Helen Morrison insisted upon accompanying her 
father to Buenos Ayres. When remonstrated with 
by the General upon the needless fatigue and peril 
she would incur, replied: 

“Why! father, I am an American soldier’s 
daughter, and have been in the army all my life, and 
you know we army people think nothing of fatigue, 
and peril is part of our profession.” 

Then putting her arms around the stern old war- 
rior’s neck, she said softly: 

“Beside, dear father, our angel in heaven would 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


49 


wish it, she left you to me, and said, I was to take 
care of you, when I was ever so little.” 

Morrison pressed his daughter close to his breast, 
and though he made no answer, the question was 
settled. 

Helen went to South America with him. 

It was during this memorable campaign that 
General John Morrison and his daughter won the 
hearts of the American people. 

The intervention of the Great Republic of the 
North was basely misrepresented by foreign govern- 
ments. Their emissaries proclaimed broadcast 
throughout South America, that the protecting arm of 
the United States was treacherously extended and 
that conquest was intended, not protection. 

When General Morrison reached South America, 
he found the whole continent aflame, his army sur- 
rounded by multitudinous foes ; trained soldiers of 
Italy landing in front of his army and a horde of 
excited and deluded natives in the rear and around 
his position. 

Leaving his daughter to the care of the American 
Consul-General at Montevideo, the General joined 
his army in the field. 

By masterly strategy, and desperate fighting, ac- 
companied by superb diplomacy in dealing with the 
South Americans, after two years of hard campaign- 
ing, during which time he was often forced as far as 


50 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


the Andes and out of touch with the government at 
Washington, General Morrison succeeded in driving 
the foreign forces from the continent. 

He successfully negotiated a treaty of peace 
•between the Republics of the South, restored order 
jamong the people, removed the false impression con- 
cerning the motive of the United States in interpos- 
ing its strong arm, and firmly established the friend- 
ship that has ever since existed between the Republics 
of the South and the Great Republic of the North 
American Continents. 

Nor did Morrison fail to assert the supreme influ- 
ence that the United States insisted it should exercise 
in the affairs of the governments of the Western 
Hemisphere in dealing with the nations of the 
Eastern World. 

It was during the absence of her father with his 
hard-pressed army that Helen Morrison exhibited 
that lion-like American courage, that proclaims the 
race whence the Americans come on every occasion 
that fearlessness is demanded. 

The populace of Montevideo becoming incensed 
and excited by the false machinations of the paid 
agitators of Italy, made an attack upon the American 
consulate, where Helen was living. 

The Consul-General was killed, the frightened 
attaches, fleeing for their lives, left the consulate, the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


61 


American flag and the American General’s daughter 
to the mercy of the mob. 

Fear was as foreign to Helen Morrison’s bosom as 
it was to her father’s. Taking her stand by the 
window from which the stars and stripes was sus- 
pended, she, alone, repeating rifle in hand, stood 
guard over the flag of her country. 

After the misled mob had wrecked the lower floor 
of the consulate, the frenzied people made a rush up 
the Stairs to get at the flag against which by false- 
hoods their auger had been aroused. 

Confronted by the pale, resolute young woman 
who without a tremor in her voice, now as ringing 
^ her father’s on the field of battle, cried to them: 

“Stop where you are ! I will shoot if you come 
nearer or touch the flacf.” 

The mob hesitated, before such an unexpected ap- 
parition and unlooked for greeting, then muttered, 
warned, cursed and finally began hurling missiles as 
well as oaths at the lone guardian of her country’s 
banner. 

A stone striking the girl’s fair forehead, and cut- 
ting it, she staggered as the blood gushed over her 
face. The mob made a rush forward. 

Dashing the blood from her eyes, this gently 
nurtured woman, now that the fighting Anglo-Saxon 
temper was aroused that lays dormant in every 
American and English woman, began shooting. No 


52 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ON WARD 1 


Western cowboy ever “pumped lead” faster and 
with more precision. The rifle-barrel grew hot, 
scorching the delicate hand, but the hand never 
trembled. So rapidly was the rifle exploded that the 
mob was halted, amazed. Confused it retreated, leav- 
ing the stairs littered with dead and wounded. 

Back into the street and around the building the 
maddened mass surged, swaying, cursing and howl- 
ing for two nerve-trying hours, shooting holes in the 
flag and firing at the window and building, but fear- 
fully held back from mounting the stairs which that 
terrible rifle protected. 

A British man-of-war (only a small cruiser), was 
in the harbor. The riot had been reported to the 
commander early, but as he had no orders from his 
government and the lives and property of British 
subjects were not endangered, he had remained 
quiescent until the report was brought to him of the 
condition of affairs above recorded, and that an 
American woman alone and wounded was holding 
the mob at bay and defending the flag of America. 

The British bull-dog blood was up in an instant, 
and the brave sailor said with more profanity possibly 
than polite society is accustomed to : 

“I’ll be d if an Englishman can stand that. 

There may be a h of a row when they hear of 

it in England, but here goes, for “blood is thicker 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


63 


lhan water” as the American sailor Tatnall once said 
under like conditions. “ Call away ‘All the boats !’ ” 

With ringing cheers the boats were soon loaded 
with brave British blue- jackets. With a cheer led 
by their commander, they charged the mob around the 
American consulate. Soon the street was clear of 
rioter's; a British guard was established, and Helen, 
tenderly tended by the kind-hearted, fatherly British 
surgeon, was removed to a place of safety. 

**¥(>)(* 

It was after the two years spent in South America 
and the dangers and trials that had been experienced, 
that General Morrison and his daughter arrived in 
America, to receive a national ovation. 

The press had familiarized every citizen with the 
acts and deeds of the General and his beautiful 
daughter while in South America, and the great 
patriotic heart of the people of the Union was stirred 
with love and gratitude for both father and daughter. 

General John Morrison was rewarded by Congress 
in praise and promotion, and by the people of the 
nation by his election to the high office of president 
of the country that he had so gallantly served. 

Helen Morrison shared with her father the love and 
admiration of the American people. No woman in 
the history of the nation had ever held a similar 
position before in the hearts of the great mass of the 
citizens. 


CHAPTER IV. 


Will He Remember ? 

The Russian flagship fairly blazed with electric 
lights as the steam launches from the British and 
American men-of-war bearing the guests of the 
Grand Duke Vladimar approached the gangway. 

Both the Russian Admiral and Prince Gourkoff met 
the officers of the two nations as they appeared on 
the deck of the vessel with a warm greeting, and 
introduced them into the magnificent saloon of the 
ship where they were presented to the Russian 
Grand Duke. 

Like the gracious gentleman he was, the Grand 
Duke received the guests with utmost cordiality and 
with little of the formality of manner that is supposed 
to be customary with royalty ; in fact he seemed by 
his frankness to endeavor to dispel any stiffness at the 
dinner that might be occasioned by his royal rank. 

With Commodore Adams came one who wore the 
uniform of a colonel of cavalry in the American 
army. He was presented to His Highness as Colonel 
George Howard. 

As the two men clasped hands, they formed an 
ideal picture of types of masculine beauty. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE, 


65 


The American soldier, tall as the Russian prince 
was, towered above him. The blue uniform coat of 
cavalryman seemed moulded on his great figure, 
giving every outline of his almost gigantic propor- 
tions. His shoulders stood out a hand’s breadth on 
either side of the Grand Duke’s as the men stood 
facing each other. 

Deep of chest, thin of flank, Howard was a pic- 
ture of the old Grecian gladiators who filled Rome’s 
arena centuries ago. Upon a massive, muscular 
neck that rose straight and firm as an oaken column 
from his immense shoulders, he carried the erect 
head of the well-trained soldier. 

Any famous beauty might with reason have 
envied the big soldier the mass of closely cropped 
golden curls that lying thickly, covered his large 
and shapely head. Across his broad brow the 
fatigue cap, worn constantly, had drawn a line; 
above it the skin was as white and fair as an infant’s; 
below the line the face was bronzed by southern suns 
into a dark-red brown. 

With large blue eyes that ever mark the bravest and 
the tenderest, well-formed nose and full soft curling 
blonde beard. Colonel Howard was a glorious model 
of a man and soldier, the long scar across his cheek 
rather adding to, than detracting from, his grand 
appearance. 

The Grand Duke was immensely pleased with the 


56 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


great American soldier, and after the presentation of 
the officers was over, His Highness joined the party 
where he saw Howard vigorously shaking the hand 
of a captain of the British navy. 

“Great God! man, you have a grip of iron!” ex- 
claimed the captain, laughing, freeing his hand from 
Howard’s grasp as Vladimar approached the party. 

Amidst great laughter from Howard’s brother 
officers, one of them said: 

“We all know the Colonel’s friendly grasp and 
beg to be excused from shaking hands with him.” 

Howard, much confused, the bronze of his face 
growing brighter with blushes, said to the Grand 
Duke, by whom he seemed to have been most favor- 
ably impressed, in explanation, and by way of apology 
to the suffering, but smiling British captain: 

“Your Highness will understand, and I know Cap- 
tain Somers will excuse the vehemence of my greet- 
ing, when I state that all Americans are grateful to 
this gallant officer for his brave rescue in Montevideo 
of the best beloved woman in America.” 

“And what, may I ask,” said the Grand Duke 
smiling at the amusing exhibition of such powerful 
handshaking, “is the name of the lady, so popular in 
America?” 

All the Americans regarded the Russian with a 
commingling of pity and astonishment at his ignor- 
ance, and Howard, with an inclination of the head, 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


57 


as if the name commanded a certain reverence, said: 

“The name of the lady is Helen Morrison; she is 
the President’s daughter. Captain Somers was in com- 
mand of a British cruiser at Montevideo during the war 
in South America, and rescued Miss Morrison from 
the mob that destroyed the American consulate, and 
killed the Consul-General.” 

“Surely England and America were not allies in 
that war,” said Vladimar with some surprise. 
“Great Britain had no hand in that matter. I per- 
fectly remember reading of the incident, but imag- 
ined the commander of the cruiser had been severely 
censured and dismissed from the service.” 

Captain Somers who became greatly amused as the 
Russian proceeded was fairly chuckling with glee 
when he concluded: 

“Bless I if I know how it came about,” said the 
brave and jolly English officer. 

“I got the merry devil in public from the Admir- 
alty, and privately I was patted on the back, 
chucked up a grade, and made captain. I was dis- 
graced from commander to captain,” said Somers 
amidst roars of laughter from the listening group 
about him, “and ruined socially forever by being 
invited away from my musty old club to dine with a 
certain exalted person, the first gentleman in Eng- 
land, by whom I was treated most handsomely,” 
adde<i the captain. 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD: 


“One more disgrace like that,” said Sir John Col- 
quitt, who had moved over to the merry party, and 
was highly amused at his captain’s story, “and 
Somers, you will jump over all of our heads into an 
admiral’s berth.” 

“Well!” said Somers with enthusiasm, “I am 
ready to risk the disgrace and waive the promotion 
to have the honor of being of service to such a 
splendid woman as Miss Morrison. Your President’s 
daughter is simply superb under fire, and perfectly 
charming at all times.” 

Involuntarily the brawny cavalryman reached for- 
ward to grasp the Englishman’s hands again, but the 
gallant captain saw the hand coming toward his and 
stepping back, cried out: 

“I’m d if you do. Colonel ; one time is enough 

— I’ll shake hands with Commodore Adams instead.” 

When the mirth occasioned by this sally at How- 
ard’s expense had subsided, the Grand Duke 
remarked : 

“It is wonderful the way you British and Ameri- 
cans are continually getting mixed up, aiding each 
other when really it is not your duty to do so, and 
in fact when it is contrary to your best interest to 
give aid, and still somehow you always come out all 
right.” 

“Well! Your Highness,” said Sir John, “these 
Yankees and British are like birds hatched in the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


same nest. We sing the same songs and have the same 
plumage, only the Yankees flew across the ocean to 
make a new nest and we remained by the old one ; 
but we like all the same to flock together, being 
birds of a feather.” 

The announcement that dinner was served ended 
the conversation. The party was soon seated around 
the table glittering with costly plate and radiant 
with fragrant Spanish flowers from Gibraltar. After 
a perfectly served meal of delicious viands, the usual 
complimentary toasts were offered. 

When America was named, the British officers 
responded more heartily than to any other sentiment, 
save only when the toast was Great Britain, and 
then the Americans vied with the Englishmen in 
doing honor to the home whence came the ancestors 
of the Americans. 

During the dinner the Grand Duke endeavored to 
induce Colonel Howard to relate some of his many 
adventures, as the Russian prince had learned from 
the other American officers that Howard was one of 
the bravest and most daring soldiers in the American 
army. 

Howard, hov/ever, was as modest as he was brave, 
and refused to be “drawn out” by the questions of 
His Highness, until finally Vladimar asked the 
reason for the great admiration felt by the Ameri- 


60 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


cans for General Morrison whom they had so unani- 
mously elected President. 

“Because,” replied Howard, ready at once to 
speak of the deeds of another, “he is a great and 
good man, the bravest of the brave as a soldier, as a 
strategist and commander-in-chief the equal of our 
famous Americans, Grant and Lee. The campaign 
of La Platte, in which he contended against the 
combined forces of South America, will long re- 
main a subject of study and a source of instruction 
for military men.” 

“Your Highness,” interrupted Commodore Adams, 
“Howard omits to mention the fact that in that cam- 
paign he commanded the brigade of cavalry, the 
brigadier-general receiving a wound early in the 
conflict and being unable to lead his men. Nor does 
the Colonel mention that it was the tireless and terri- 
ble attacks of the United States cavalry upon the 
famed Guacho Horsemen of the Pampas that finally 
freed the American army from the swarm of foes by 
which it was surrounded.” 

“Well! to be sure I served with the President in 
that war, and of course saw some fighting,” remarked 
Howard in a deprecating tone. 

“Some fighting!” exclaimed Commodore Adams. 

“Why man, the women of La Platte hush their 
children to sleep yet by the mention of the ‘Blonde 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


61 


Devil’ as South Americans dubbed you,” and turning 
to Vladimar the Commodore continued: 

“They say if a Guacho anyvrhere in South Amer- 
ica has a scar on him and is asked how he got it, his 
invariable reply is ‘The Blonde Devil’s saber.’ ” 

Howard protested against what he said was only 
the Commodore’s yarn and all nonsense; but some- 
how, as Howard’s deep strong voice sounded along 
the saloon, and the Grand Puke noted the nervous 
fingers of the powerful hand now shaking a napkin 
at Adams across the table, he believed the sailor’s 
story. 

“You, then, were much with General Morrison in 
South America, Colonel! Did you meet his much 
admired daughter?” asked the Grand Duke. 

“I have had that honor,” briefly replied Howard. 

“Pray, Colonel, describe this peerless sample of 
the feminine sex,” said the Russian gaily. 

The blonde giant straightened up in his chair and 
fixing his gaze sternly upon the smiling Grand 
Duke, in a tone of voice almost menacing as it came 
rolling from his broad chest, replied: 

“General Morrison’s daughter is not a subject I 
care to hear discussed lightly, besides, an ordinary 
soldier like myself, more used of late years to the 
field than to polite society, would find the subject far 
above his power of description, being so much better, 


62 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


nobler and purer than that men in any society any- 
where are accustomed to.” 

The emphasis with which the words “any society 
anywhere” were spoken, indicated much meaning, 
and was so understood by all who heard them. 

The Grand Duke seeing the error, of manner 
more than words, into which he had fallen, grace- 
fully withdrew from further prosecution of that theme 
of conversation, by the use of a lot of the well-turned 
phrases of good society, but observed the approval 
among the Americans that Howard’s answer had 
met with and silently made the comment that “In 
the matter of pride, these republican nobodies out- 
herod Herod.” 

Prince Gourkoff, while apparently giving his whole 
attention to the recital of Sir John Colquitt’s account 
of the evolutions of the allied fleets of Great Britain 
and the United States in the East, where Sir John 
and Commodore Adams had met first as young 
lieutenants, in fact heard and saw all that was going 
on around his protegee, the Grand Duke, and as he 
watched the American cavalryman he thought, 

“After this visit to the Republic, I shall advise 
Vladimar to avoid that blonde giant, as a meeting 
might prove hazardous to His Highness.” 

The conversation becoming general. Prince Gour- 
koff inquired concerning the present expedition to 
Palestine, as he had learned that that was the destina- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


63 


tion of troop-ships convoyed by the two men-of-war 
of the United States. Upon being informed by the 
American Commodore that Colonel Howard was in 
command of the troops and had received his orders 
directly from the President, he said, addressing his 
remarks to Howard: 

“Colonel, maybe you can tell me why the Ameri- 
can government is sending so many soldiers to Asia? 
I am informed there are already more than twenty 
thousand American soldiers in Palestine, beside large 
garrisons on the Balearic Islands, which, with the 
force now stationed by England’s permission at 
Cyprus, seems sufficient for any reasonable object 
that the Washington government may have in view.” 

“I am sure, sir,” replied Colonel Howard ab- 
ruptly, for the appearance of Prince Gourkoff had 
not pleased him, “I cannot give you the desired 
information. I am only a soldier, not a politi- 
cian. The orders that I have had the honor to 
receive from the commander-in-chief were simply 
to reinforce the army of Asia with the two regiments 
of cavalry which as brevet-brigadier-general I com- 
mand. I believe, however,” Howard added with the 
fierce light of battle coming into his blue eyes, “that 
the Arabs and wild Mohammedan horsemen of the 
desert are giving our men some trouble, and my 
command is sent to hold them in check.” 

“The resources of America must be exhaustless, 


64 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


and you Americans have a right to be proud of 
your country, but really it seems somewhat Quixotic 
for your nation to have gone to the expense, danger 
and trouble of protecting the Jews of Palestine,” 
insinuated the diplomatist in the most guileless way 
imaginable. 

“I am not surprised at the action of our govern- 
ment, and think that I can explain the position of 
America in the premises,” said Commodore Adams, 
and instantly the other speakers around the table 
became silent and listened attentively to the Ameri- 
can Commodore. 

“When the fanatical followers of Mahomet became 
aroused by this new Mahdi, and began an attack 
upon all ‘Disbelievers,’ as they call those who do not 
bow to their prophet, the European governments 
quickly called a halt upon the attacks making upon 
the Christians, and sufficient influence was brought 
to bear by the Sublime Porte upon the Mahdi 
and his hordes to cause a termination of that part of 
the programme, but the suffering of the Jews was 
another matter. No nation of Europe was especially 
interested nor likely to give trouble, and upon that 
much abused race fell the wrath of the fanatics with 
unequaled fury.” The American paused, and 
glancing proudly around the table, exclaimed: 

“But the Mahdi and his disciples, as well as the Sub- 
lime Porte, had forgotten that the flag of the Western 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


Republic flies as a beacon-light for men of every 
faith. A sure sign of security to all, let them wor- 
ship their God as they may. As the champions of 
freedom and civilization the wide world over, we 
insist upon toleration, and that all men shall be 
humanly treated. Beneath our starry banner every 
faith may flourish. It is the very essence of the life 
of our nation.*” 

The sailor’s studious visage flushed at the applause 
of his hearers, in which applause the British officers 
were decidedly the most demgnstrative, and when it 
ended resumed by saying: 

“Many of America’s most prominent, patriotic, 
valued citizens are of the Jewish faith. When they 
appealed to the American Congress in behalf of 
their persecuted co-religionists. Congress gave ready 
attention to their petition, diplomacy failing to pro- 
duce a cessation of outrages that might have been 
tolerable in Spain in the sixteenth century, but not 
to be tolerated by free America in the twentieth, the 
government was forced to try the efficacy of the 
valor and arms of its soldiers.” 

“You Anglo-Saxons,” said Gourkoff as Commo- 
dore Adams finished speaking, “have adopted an 
old method in occupying territory. Charlemagne 
extended his empire over all Teutonic territory 
under like pretense, that is upon questions of religion. 
We find to-day a British army in Turkey, upon the 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


pretext that the Armenian Christians are cruelly 
treated, and an American army in Palestine, because 
the Jews are persecuted.” 

“But, Prince Gourkoff,” replied Sir John Col- 
quitt, taking up the cudgel for his country, “the 
difference, if my memory serves me correctly, 
between Charlemagne’s methods and those of the 
American government and our own, is that the great 
conqueror said: ‘Believe as I do or be beheaded,’ 
while both of the Anglo-Saxon iiations proclaim 
that everyone is entitled in this civilized century to 
worship God in his own manner, and shall not be 
made to suffer because of religious belief. We go^ 
not to conquer, but to free mankind. We men of 
Anglo-Saxon blood firmly believe that God Almighty 
has preserved our race in many awful hours, when 
storm and disaster surrounded us, for that purpose. 
It is the destiny of our great brother nations.” 

With an amused smile the cool, old diplomatist 
regarded the fervent speaker and in a musing voice 
remarked : 

“A most remarkable similarity in the sentiment of 
British and the Americans.” 

Commodore Adams tersely and quickly replied: 

“Blood, language, literature, law and origin in 
common should create similar feelings even if Sir 
John and I do wear different uniforms.” 

Prince Gourkoff deftly led the drift of the con- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


67 


versation in another direction, seeing there was not 
much use attempting to make an impression upon 
his hard-headed listeners in the way adopted, and 
suggested the long friendship that had existed 
between Russia and the Republic, saying: 

“Russia has always stood firmly the friend of Amer- 
ica, exhibiting that feeling in the darkest days of Civil 
War, between the States away back in 1863, when 
even brother was arrayed against brother.” 

“That evidence of the friendship of Russia has 
always been appreciated in our country, no matter 
whether the motive was unselfish or not,” bluntly 
said Colonel Howard. 

“It is impossible to suggest a selfish motive,” said 
Gourkoff quickly. 

“I don’t mean to even suggest one, but as a matter 
of fact. Uncle Sam was an awfully convenient clog 
to tie to John Bull’s leg when old John started to 
charge upon some wrong-doer,” answered Howard 
with a degree of sharpness to which the smooth 
Russian diplomatist was unused to. 

“It is certainly charming,” said Gourkoff, an 
almost imperceptible sneer upon his pale face, and in 
his low, well-modulated voice, “to see foes who 
formerly fought with the bitterness of the British and 
Americans become so loving and amiable.” 

Howard leaning forward, his massive frame rest- 
ing upon the edge of the table, one muscular hand 


68 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


clasping the arm of Sir John Colquitt, who was 
seated next to him, and the other hand extended 
toward the Russian, said slowly, impressively and 
with deliberation: 

“Prince Gourkoff, it was just what you have 
uttered that for so many years foolishly kept America 
and England apart. Politicians played upon that 
feeling with the ignorant masses. The glorious 
progress of the United States was retarded for fifty 
years by the idiotic idea that we should ever remem- 
ber the strife, that now I can say fervently, thank 
God! is forgotten.” 

The American soldier paused as if indeed render- 
ing thanksgiving to the Almighty for the great good 
that had come to mankind by an amalgamation of 
the Anglo-Saxon race for the purpose of the ad- 
vancement of civilization and Christianity, and then 
the Colonel added : 

“To the nation that Sir John represents with so 
much credit, belongs the honor of bringing about 
this consummation so desirable. For years the Brit- 
ish had extended to us the hand of friendship, nay 
more, kinship ; but among our people there remained 
some resentment, reluctance and great suspicion 
concerning the sincerity of the English, our country 
hesitated to accept the kind overtures of the great 
empire.” 

Growing more emphatic, the grand voice of 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


69 


the cavalry commander rang out as it often had 
done in battle: 

‘ ‘ But at last America could be no longer blinded ; 
the Old Lion across the sea did love its Cubs and 
proved it in 1898, when the English stood the Re- 
public’s friend during the war with Spain.” The con- 
duct then of “our kin across the sea” carried firm 
conviction to the hesitating hearts of the most doubt- 
ing, and silenced forever the rabid Anglophobists.” 

As Howard ended. Sir John who was impetuosity 
personified, threw his arm around" the American and 
hugged him, exclaiming: 

“I’ve heard of you, Howard, as a fighter, but I 
can swear you are a speaker.” 

The old Russian, finding that no matter how he 
turned the conversation, it somehow got back to the 
“same old story,” as he called it, was quite ready to 
acquiesce in the motion to adjourn to the deck above, 
where the band of the flagship was playing. 

As Vladimar passed the prince, he whispered: 

“It was a love feast indeed.” 

Gourkoff quickly answered, 

“It is always so, I am told, when these two flags 
are together.” 

When the deck was reached, the Grand Duke said 
to Howard: 

“Come, Colonel, let us promenade the deck while 
we finish our cigars.” 


70 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Leaving the party, the two men began walking 
back and forth, discussing their hunting experiences, 
for both were ardent sportsmen. The American 
had made great bags of game in South America, 
Cuba, China, in fact wherever he had been stationed. 

Vladimar had also seen considerable sport in the 
field, hunting the best game sections of the broad 
Russian Empire, so that the men soon became deeply 
interested in a subject possessing a charm for both. 

Thus engrossed, they paid but little attention to 
the balance of the party until Sir John Colquitt, 
Commodore Adams and the other officers came for- 
ward to take leave of the Grand Duke, their launches 
being at the gangway. 

When Howard turned to say good-night, Vladimar 
said, holding the American by the hand: 

“Can’t I detain you a while longer? I would like 
to hear the end of your experience in your grizzly 
bear hunt. We will send you over to your ship in 
one of our launches later.” 

Howard, who by this time had formed quite a 
kindly feeling for the Russian, willingly assented. 

After the other guests had departed, Vladimar said 
to the Russian Admiral : 

“Admiral, while your ship is delightful, still I 
have a fancy for a stroll on land, and if Colonel 
Howard will accompany me and you will lend us a 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


71 


boat, as the night is beautiful and it is not very late, 
I shall go ashore.” 

“Of course. Your Highness,” said the Admiral. 
“The ship and all that is in her is subject to your 
disposal. Shall I have a guard accompany you? 

“Oh! For the I./ord sake! No! I am weary 
of always having guards around me, beside I expect 
Colonel Howard and I can take care of ourselves 
under almost any circumstances,” said Vladimar as 
he glanced at the great size of his companion who, 
with a grim smile listened to what was said. 

Gourkoff just then joined them, and hearing of the 
proposed trip to Gibraltar, he said something softly to 
the Grand Duke that was not heard by the others, 
but the reply that Gourkoff received was : 

“Nonsense! I am not in Russia, the idea is 
absurd.” 

This put an end to further suggestion or comment. 
Shortly the boat was ready and the two men, repre- 
senting the two extremes of government, the most free 
and the most autocratic, were seated side by side 
chatting with the good fellowship that the subject of 
sport alv/ays insures when its devotees meet. 

When the landing was reached, the Grand Duke 
suggested a visit to a cafe, where the previous night 
he had been with a party of Russian officers from 
the cruisers coajing in the harbor, saying: 

“The music of the guitars will recall doubtless 


72 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Havana to you, Colonel, and the excellent iced 
champagne will remind us both of Paris.” 

When the cafe was reached, it was found crowded 
with representatives of almost every nation on 
earth, the rcd-coated soldiers of England, the blue- 
uniformed men of the American transports, swarthy 
sons of Spain and robust representatives of Russia, 
all mingled together as pleased spectators of the 
graceful dancing of a girl in the center of the room, 
who with rattling castanets and flying feet glided 
over the floor, where a place had been cleared for her 
dancing. . 

The Grand Duke and the American Colonel made 
their way through the outer circle of the girl’s ad- 
miring audience, Howard returning the salutes of 
many of the young officers from the American ships 
as he pushed forward. Delighted with the swift and 
easy motions of the dancer, the two companions re- 
mained standing in the bright light at the edge of the 
space made for the dancer until with a whirl of black 
lace, a swish of yellow silk, the girl finished. 

The appearance of the American and the Russian 
Grand Duke was so imposing that their coming 
had created some sensation, and many eyes were 
turned toward them with interest. As the circle 
around the senorita, after filling her hands with 
coin, returned to the tables, the two compan- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


78 


ions selecting a place in one corner, seated them- 
selves and called for a bottle of champagne. 

“Americans and Russians are alike in one respect 
at least, we both prefer champagne to any other kind 
of wine,” said Vladimar, as the cork popped from 
the bottle. 

“Permit me,” said Howard, “to add to that 
another point of similarity between our nations, the 
world says Russians and Americans make most excel- 
lent soldiers.” 

“I thank you for the compliment you pay Russia 
in naming her soldiers with the Americans. We in 
Europe thought but lightly of your volunteer militia, 
until we saw time and again your raw recruits light 
with the steadiness of veterans, and the ferocity of 
tigers.” 

Thus the talk turned to military affairs, in which 
Howard was so well versed that Vladimar was glad 
to listen to the practical manner in which the subject 
was handled. 

Entertained and interested they did not notice that 
the music had ceased and the cafe was nearly empty, 
until an attendant called their attention to the fact 
that the hour for closing had come. 

While the Grand Duke and Howard were standing 
in the circle of light looking at the dancing, they had 
not noticed the eager gaze fixed on them by the glit- 
tering eyes of a small, dark, tigerish-looking man, 


74 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


who from the outskirts of the ring around the 
dancer, watched their every motion. 

When they had selected a table and were seated, 
the same sparkling glances followed them, as the 
dark man secured a position in a corner near by and 
waited. 

As Vladimar and Howard stepped into the street, 
the man who had been watching them, rose from 
where he was seated and prepared to follow, but was 
detained for some minutes, while the attendant who 
had waited at his table calculated the charge for the 
refreshments that had been served the watcher. 

At last the score was settled and the man hurried 
out of the now darkened cafe; when he reached the 
street he hesitated, looking up and down as if in 
doubt in which direction to hasten, no one being in 
sight either up or down the street. 

Finally, as if at last resolved upon the course he 
should take, he darted around the corner of the first 
street and glided swiftly along in the shadow of the 
houses, making straight for the landing where the 
Russian launch was lying waiting for His Highness. 

The American and Russian, arm in arm, all un- 
conscious of the very existences of anyone watch- 
ing them, had, upon leaving the cafe, carelessly 
sauntered down a by-way where the moon-light was 
brightest, continuing their conversation as they 
proceeded toward the stairs where they had landed. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


75 


Coming out from the shadow upon the wharf 
where the light fell with all the splendor of the full 
moon, the Grand Duke and Howard found themselves 
at the far end of the dock, and walked slowly along 
the edge of the pier toward the stairs, enjoying the 
glorious scene that the moonlight falling on the 
white ships, silvering the water around them, had 
created; they did not notice the figure stealthily 
creeping behind them. 

Suddenly Howard was aroused from his silent 
contemplation of the scene spread before him by the 
falling of some object, a parcel, just before him and 
his companion, and the sound of footsteps running. 
One instant only he paused, then hearing the tick, 
tick, coming with clock-like sound from the parcel 
before him, he, like a flash of lightning striking, 
seized the Prince around the waist and whirled him 
up into the air as if he had been an infant, the 
mighty muscles of the big American’s thighs 
gathered together and he sprang with the Russian in 
his arms out into the water of the bay. 

Simultaneous with the closing of the water over 
the heads of the two men came a fearful explosion, 
rocks and pieces of timber fell all around the spot 
where the American and his burden had sunk. 

The men rose to the surface, Howard still grasping 
the Grand Duke. 

“Can you swim?” asked the American when he 


76 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


recovered his breath after the sudden plunge into the 
cold water. 

“Yes, but I am confused, what has happened?” 
replied Vladimar, freeing himself from the grasp 
that held him. 

“No time this to talk; swim after me and make for 
the boat,” replied Howard, at the same time strik- 
ing out with powerful strokes, making for the launch 
that was seen rapidly approaching. 

The officer in charge of the boat in attendance, 
had heard the explosion and the voices coming 
from the surface of the water, had guessed what it 
meant and acted quickly. 

Hardly were the swimmers drawn into the boat 
when the Grand Duke seized both of Howard’s 
hands, saying as he did so: 

“I realize what it all means now. I owe my life 
and safety to your great presence of mind, quickness 
of decision, action and superb strength. Colonel 
Howard. I shall never forget it.” 

“I hope that I did not hurt you when I grabbed 
hold of you, but there was no time for ceremony,” 
said the American laughing and releasing his hands 
to wring the water out of the skirts of his coat. 

“Don’t treat my gratitude lightly, my friend,” said 
Vladimar, “I should surely have been killed but for 
your promptness of action. How can I thank you?” 

“By saying nothing more about it. Your High- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


77 


ness,” replied the cavalryman brusquely and then 
added : 

“It was an old trick and I recognized the ticking 
clockwork of a dynamite machine in an instant. 
You see, I had the same thing tried on me while in 
Paraguay during the South American war, and it 
was only by good luck that both General Morrison 
and myself were not killed.” 

As the Grand Duke of Russia ascended the ladder 
to the flagship (Howard insisted upon returning to 
the American ship for dry clothing and to report the 
matter to the Commodore) he said, holding firmly 
the hand of the American soldier: 

‘Howard, I shall never forget this night. Should 
time ever place it in my power to prove my grati- 
tude, I will remember!” 

Lights were now flashing all over the ships, forti- 
fications, harbor and the town of Gibraltar. The 
news of the attempted assassination had sprbad on 
the wings of the wind. 

Great was the bustle, noise and investigation, but 
no one was arrested. 

Time holds in its iron clutches the answer to the 
question 

“Will the Russian remember?” 


CHAPTER V. 


“The Old Story.” 

/^NE morning in April, a short time before General 
Morrison left Buenos Ayres for America, 
Helen came all fresh and smiling into the breakfast 
room of the mansion that was the commander-in- 
chief’s headquarters and greeted her father by 
saying: 

“One kiss will not answer this morning, you must 
make it one and twenty, for to-day is the anniversary i 
of my birthday ; that very important day has arrived, 
and I am now of age.” 

“Well, Helen,” said the General, “you must for- 
give me, but I have had so many things to think of 
in preparing for our departure for home that the fact 
really is, that to-day was your birthday had escaped j 
my attention.” I 

And as the old warrior looked with approval 
upon the tall, fine figure of the young woman before 
him, whose big, brown eyes looked up lovingly at 
him, he musingly continued: 

“It only seems yesterday that you were a baby, 
and here you are of age. I suppose soon you will 
be marrying and leaving her gruff old father.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


79 


“Not the slightest clanger of my marrying; I 
don’t believe the man lives who could induce me to 
leave my good father.” 

“You grow more like your mother, daily, my 
dear, just as she looked at me the day we were 
married, you did when you came into the room,” 
said the father, and pushing the bright chestnut hair 
away from the fair brow around which it clustered, 
again he kissed his daughter, though this time with 
a sigh as he thought of another Helen Morrison 
whom this one so nearly resembled. 

When seated at the table it was a pretty picture 
that they made. The General’s hair had grown 
gray early and now was almost white. His large 
black eyes, dark ruddy complexion, the erect and 
stately carriage, made him a noticeable person in any 
gathering. 

His daughter, as she gracefully presided at the 
table, presented in perfection womanhood in the 
morning of its glorious day. 

Tall, with some of her father’s dignity, figure full, 
rounded and well developed ; great brown eyes that 
looked straight, calmly and honestly at any one 
addressed. 

Strength of mind and firmness of character was 
written in every line and feature of the sweet face 
that smiled upon the General over the tea-tray. 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


But with all the dignity, strength of mind and char- 
acter, Helen was all womanly, loving, lovable. 

There is no reflation in life more elevating than 
that existing between a father and his daughter, 
especially if they be companionable. There is 
something in his position as protector, guide and 
lover that draws closer the kinship between earthly 
father and Heavenly Father. The confident reliance 
of a daughter in the sure, strong, unselfish love of 
her father unsullied by any feeling save paternal, 
her trustful confidence in his love and leading, her 
confidential conversations with him, all ennoble, ele- 
vate, broaden the mind and heart of a woman. 

The General and his daughter were companions, 
friends, (nothing expresses it as well) “chums.” 
Over their breakfast they chatted as freely and gaily 
as two young people, the General saying as he 
pushed his chair away from the table: 

“Well, I have had the honor of being served by 
one of the greatest heiresses on the Western Hemi- 
sphere, for to-day, Helen, you come into possession 
of the Vanness fortune, increased now largely by the 
accumulations of the last fifteen years. I suppose 
the Trust Company in New York is awaiting your 
appearance, young lady, with anxiety, ready to 
render an accounting of its stewardship.” 

“Father, I have been thinking about this fortune 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


81 


quite a good deal lately, and what to do with it,” 
said Helen. 

Coming around the table and sitting by her 
father’s side, taking his hand and looking tenderly, 
lovingly at him, she continued: 

“You know, father, how you acted regarding my 
mother’s money when you were married, and how 
happily you and mother lived and how you loved 
each other without it, and since we lost our angel, 
how happy and comfortable you and I have been 
without that lot of money. Now the care, responsi- 
bility and trouble of all these millions are thrust upon 
me. I don’t know what to do with all this wealth!” 

“Yes ! My daughter, your mother and I lived and 
loved without the Vanness fortune and we were very 
happy even though I was only a poor lieutenant when 
we were married, and I do not think my wife ever 
regretted her acquiescence in the matter.” 

The General paused, and laughing at the look of 
perplexity and worry on the fair face before him, 
said: 

“Helen, you are a strange young woman to feel 
worried by the possession of lots of money. Not 
many girls would find much to trouble them under 
like circumstances.” 

“I am my father’s daughter, sir, I want you to 
remember,” replied quickly the General’s daughter. 

“You can do much good, my dear, with your 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


money — be charitable, help the poor and needy, suc- 
cor the suffering. Do as did your mother and another 
Helen that the records of our country tell us of,” 
said her father. 

“But, father,” exclaimed the young woman, “the 
sum of money awaiting me in New York is enorm- 
ous, it must be nearly twenty millions.” 

“Yes! Surely that amount, and I imagine even 
more ; I have never paid any attention to the 
matter.” 

“Have you any wish or opinion concerning this 
money, father?” 

“Only, my child, that it may not spoil my Helen, 
and that it may be invested so as to be of use to the 
people of our country.” 

“Then I may do with it as may to me seem best, 
and no matter what disposition I may make of it, 
you are sure, my father, that it will have your ap- 
proval,” said Helen anxiously scanning the General’s 
face to catch the slightest sign of hesitation in his 
answer. 

“Child! I am as unconcerned now with regard to 
this money as I was when I married Helen Vanness, 
your mother! My only anxiety then, as now, is 
that my honor and self-respect shall not be wounded 
by it,” promptly replied her father. The answer 
came so frankly, and the manly face was so strong 
with the sincerity of the sentiment expressed that no 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


88 


room was left to suspect any mental reservation in 
the matter. 

The General added seriously: 

“I should not like, however, to see so vast a sum 
as you inherit leave our country, no matter who was 
the owner, for it may do much good at home in the 
land where it was accumulated. 

With a relieved expression coming into her beauti- 
ful eyes, Helen exclaimed: 

“I am so glad, my dearest father, that you feel 
that way about my fortune. Now there is no ob- 
stacle remaining in the execution of the plan I have 
formulated. My mother and that other Helen of 
American history had both lost their fathers, and had 
time to devote to establishing all kinds of charitable 

o 

institutions, but I have you, my dear, to look after, 
and we may be ordered to Africa or Alaska 
to-morrow.” 

And the girl paused to kiss the strong hand that 
j she held in hers. 

“I have not the time to look after the wise and 
proper distribution of this money and surely should 
I be misled and imposed upon. You and my mother 
! lived in happiness on your pay as a lieutenant, and 
surely I am not as good as she was, and certainly 
we can supply all of our wants with our pay as major- 
; general, and I have concluded to give my fortune 
j away!” 


84 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


“Well! But, child, that is a serious matter. You 
may do much harm by giving away twenty millions. 
How do you propose to do it?” asked the surprised 
but pleased father. 

“I have thought of that and concluded, with your 
approval, to have a non-political, non-sectarian 
board of charitably disposed ladies and gentlemen 
appointed to receive and distribute this Vanness for- 
tune of mine in works of charity, doing good with 
these millions to those of every race and creed in 
America who may be needy.” 

The flushed face and brightened eyes of the sweet 
woman proved that this was the realization of a long 
considered project, and that the thought brought joy 
and satisfaction to her soul. 

“God will surely bless you, darling, ” cried her 
father, drawing her head down on his shoulder, and 
passing his hand caressingly over the soft hair falling 
over his epaulet, he added: 

“My Helen up in heaven would have had it so. 
Ah! Child, you are indeed your mother’s 
daughter.” 

“Yes, and my father’s,” said Helen smiling up at 
the kind face of her father, that was now covered by 
a shade of sadness. 

His daughter’s naive reply dispelled the passing 
cloud of reminiscent sorrow from the General’s 
countenance, and he said: 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


85 


“It is a pleasure and a happiness for me to have 
you so like my lost dear one, but I don’t want you 
to be in any hurry to do as she did, fall in love with 
and marry some young soldier as unworthy of 
possessing such a jewel as I was to possess the preci- 
ous gem that became mine when we were married.” 

“Did I find a soldier like my father I might be as 
ready to marry as my mother was, but I believe the 
making of such soldiers is over. So you need fear 
no repetition of my mother’s indiscretion,” said 
Helen, laughing at her father’s confusion as she 
cleverly paid the compliment. 

But somehow recollection Recalling a scene in a 
military hospital beneath the burning sun of South 
America, a great, fair-haired soldier lying fever- 
stricken, gashed and wounded wildly tossing, with 
pain distracted, almost dying and the nursing by a 
woman — and a blush mounted like the roseate hues of 
morning to Helen’s fair cheeks and forehead. 

Fathers are surely blind, sometimes ; the General 
saw nothing. 

% * * % 

George Howard was the strongest man at the 
Virginia Military Institute, only a fairly good scholar, 
but absolute head of all athletic and military. The 
beau ideal of the whole college, professors and stu- 
dents as a horseman and soldier, mounted on a 
great strong Kentucky stallion, the young fellow 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


was a perfect picture as with reckless disregard of 
streams and fences he rode “cross country.” 

The Howard family ran its genealogy far back 
through a line of honorable ancestors, and what is 
more important, gentlemen, until it reached the 
Norman nobles who fought at Hastings. 

The branch of the family that came to America, 
had purchased large estates in the valley of Virginia, 
where as proprietors, they had lived as lords upon 
vast plantations, had served the king in the Colonial 
army during the war with France back in the eight- 
eenth century. 

The Howards became kinsmen^ by intermarriage, 
to many of the men whose names are indelibly 
written on the pages of American history. 

When the tocsin of war was sounded through the 
Colonies ere America earned its position as an inde- 
pendent nation, Howards of the valley sprang to arms 
and with their neighbors quickly responded. 

Howards rode with Light Horse Harry Lee, and 
the sound of their horses’ hoofs were heard in those 
dark days of peril from Saratoga to Savannah. 
Howards had the honor of being near that grand 
calm figure of the Age and America — Washington. 

When all was over and the flag of freedom took 
its place among the standards of the nations, 
Howards help to guide the ship of state to safe 
anchorage in a solid and permanent constitution; 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


87 


long had they sat in the councils of the nation when the 
dread storm of civil war between the sections of the 
Union, burst upon our loved country. 

By tradition, affection and every long established 
feeling of the heart, the Howards were Virginians, 
and bound to their state first and most firmly, and in 
honor to themselves must follow Virginia’s leading 
even to disaster and destruction. 

Howards rode with “Stonewall” Jackson up the 
valley. Howards charged with Hampton at Gettys- 
burg, and Howards surrendered with Robert E. Lee 
at Appomattox. Howards pledged their knightly 
word of honor that thereafter they would support the 
Union. 

And they ever after kept the pledge so given ! 

Courage was in the blood of the Howards, and 
brave men ever may be trusted to keep faith when 
once it is given. Cowards are liars and traitors; 
fear is ever the mother of falsehood and treason. 

George Howard of Virginia came of fighting 
blood and family, so that it only needed a call from 
the government for volunteer troops to protect the 
southwestern settlers against an Indian uprising, 
during a period when the nation required all of its 
“regulars” for foreign service, to set all his youth- 
ful blood dancing. He quickly organized a company 
among the older students of the Institute, for all the 
young men loved Howard and were ready to follow 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


his leadinor. The offer of the services of himself and 

O 

troop was accepted, and a captain’s commission given 
the young Virginian, who thus found himself follow- 
ing in the footsteps of a long line of ancestors. 

The duty assigned to the cavalry company com- 
manded by Howard, proved much more trying and 
dangerous than was expected, inasmuch as the 
threatened Indian uprising actually took place. 

For nearly three years this volunteer company of 
Virginians chased Apaches across burning sand and 
over almost inaccessible mountains, with the vim and 
vigor of veteran “regulars.” 

When finally relieved by the returned “regular” 
cavalry, after having suppressed the “uprising” and 
capturing the malevolent spirits among the tribe of 
Indians, the Virginia cavalry was brought to Wash- 
ington to receive the thanks of the President and be 
disbanded. Howard was tendered a commission in 
the United States Army by way of recognition of his 
courage and ability in the performance of the severe 
service to which he had been assigned. 

The commission was eagerly accepted, and the 
volunteer captain became a lieutenant in the regular 
army. 

In the next few years that followed the lieutenant 
saw plenty of service in the field. From the West, 
where his troop had been fighting Indians among 
the hills and spurs of the Rocky Mountains, to the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


miasmatic swamps of Cuba, there to suppress an at- 
tempted revolt among the Spaniards who still lingered 
on that island. 

Then hurried to the Phillipines to guard that 
American colony against the threatened invasion by 
a European nation ; dispatched to China to protect 
American missionaries ; in fact, it seemed wherever 
there was fighting or a chance for it, there surely 
was to be found the regiment of cavalry in which 
Howard led a troop. 

From the position of lieutenant to that of captain 
the Virginian literally hacked and slashed his way, 
paying his passage with his blood at each step as he 
was promoted. 

By natural inclination, as well as the study of the 
tactics adopted by Sheridan, Stuart, and Forrest in 
their cavalry campaigns, Howard pursued the plan of 
going at the enemy and “mixing it up” with them. 

With the banging of carbines and a wild yell, at the 
head of his command, Howard would be among the 
foemen of the star-spangled banner, be they Indians, 
Spaniards or other European troops, or Chinese. 
It was Howard’s method of fighting. 

When remonstrated with for his recklessness, and 
his attention called to a similar style of fighting and 
its result, as illustrated in the annals of the American 
army in the fate of the brave Custer, Howard 
would reply: 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


“Well! If I get myself in such a scrape, I only 
hope to have the supreme courage of Custer and die 
with my men as he did, then the Old Dominion State 
will have nothing to be ashamed of.” 

By riding five hundred miles with his company 
while in China, and bringing in safety to the sea- 
board a party of American missionaries, whose lives 
were in danger, cutting and slashing his passage- 
through crowds of infuriated Chinese who beset his 
way, Howard won his major’s commission. 

Relieved and ordered home, the “Fighting Four- 
teenth” thought it had earned and well deserved a 
holiday, but hardly was it comfortably quartered at 
Camp Alger, before the South American embroglio 
occurred. 

When General Morrison was ordered to South 
America to take command of the Army of the United 
States stationed in the Argentine, after carefully 
examining the reports of his predecessor, and the 
methods used by the enemy in harassing and annoy- 
ing the American Army, cutting off supplies and 
communications, the General called upon the Secre- 
tary of War before leaving Washington, and said: 

“Mr. Secretary, I want one or two regiments of 
veteran cavalry to clear the skirts of my army of 
these Guacho horsemen, and I want them led by an 
officer who believes in fighting every day in the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


91 


fearless, dashing manner of Sheridan and Forrest in 
the last century.” 

“I can give you the regiments, General,” said the 
Secretary, “and I know a man of the kind you men- 
tion, but he is only a major.” 

“It is an easy matter for the President to make 
him a colonel,” replied Morrison quickly. 

“But he has been continuously in harness for 
several years and has earned a rest; he has just 
returned from the China station with the “Fighting 
Fourteenth” and it seems hardly fair to ship him off 
to South America for such hard service so soon.” 

“If that alone stands in the way. I’ll have a talk 
with him and if he is the man that I want, he will 
request the assignment himself. Who is he?” in- 
quired Morrison. 

“Major George Howard of the Fourteenth,” replied 
the head of the war department. 

“Ah! I have heard of him from General Erwin 
who commanded in the Cuban campaign; Erwin 
says lots of good things of him as a leader of cavalry. 
I shall send for him and if I find him the man I 
want, may I rely on you, Mr. Secretary, to arrange 
his promotion with the President?” asked the 
General. 

“Yes! It’s irregular, but if Howard requests the 
assignment, he deserves the promotion. There is 


92 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARDI 


bound to be plenty of bloody work before him,” 
replied the cabinet officer. 

The interview between General Morrison and 
Major Howard, that followed this conversation, was 
of the briefest nature. Morrison intuitively knew a 
soldier and a fighter when he saw one ; hardly had 
he shaken hands with Major Howard before his 
opinion was formed concerning that officer. Quickly 
coming to the point, the General said: 

“I want you to go with me to South America and 
command the cavalry doing scouting duty. The 
Secretary of War hesitates to so soon assign you to 
active duty after the continuous years of service that 
you have seen, unless you make a request for the 
assignment. Will you do it?” 

Major Howard, after a few moments’ thought, 
during which he steadily studied the face of the man 
who would be his chief if he accompanied him to 
South America, and of whom he had heard often 
though had never come in contact with before, seem- 
ing satisfied with the appearance of his superior 
officer, he answered: 

“I see no reason. General, since you pay me the 
high compliment of inviting me to go with you, why 
I should not do so. Washington possesses no par- 
ticular attraction for me. I am a soldier, not a 
society man, and care nothing for social functions. 

“Yes, sir! I will go with pleasure.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


“Write out your request for the assignment and I 
will see that it is placed in the Secretary’s hands at 
once, Colonel,” said General Morrison. 

‘^Beg pardon, sir! Major is my rank,” said the 
cavalryman, by way of correction. 

^‘1 am only a little premature, that is all. Major! 
You will go out with me as Colonel,” replied Mor- 
rison. 

did not expect a reward for my willingness to 
serve my country anywhere that my services were 
needed,” quickly responded Howard, his face flush- 
ing. 

‘‘I am sure of that. Major,” said the smiling Gen- 
eral, shaking Howard warmly by the hand as he 
prepared to leave. 

“Can I have part of my old regiment. General, the 
Fourteenth, to go along with me?” asked Howard. 

“I am going to ask for the whole of it,” replied 
the commander. And he did; furthermore, his 
request was granted. 

Once again, after only a few weeks of idleness, 
the Virginian found himself in the traces, on ship- 
board, bound for South America, in command as 
colonel, of the brave fellows who made up the 
“Fighting Fourteenth” and who greatly admired 
their former major, and would follow him “to the 
devil,” as they expressed it. 

The Fourteenth U. S. Cavalry was decidedly not 


94 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


a showy lot of soldiers. Gaunt, sinewy, sun-baked, 
fierce-faced fellows, muscles of steel and nerves of 
iron, rather slouchy, perhaps — not a bit pretty for 
parade purposes, but — how they could ride and fight! 

They told a story of Howard, when a captain serv- 
ing with the Fourteenth in China, being chaffed about 
the unsoldierly appearance of his troopers, as seen by 
the German officers who were criticising them, and 
that the American, at last, being prodded beyond 
endurance, had exclaimed: 

^‘But they can use their sabers and so can their 
officers, and that without being wrapped up in 
bandages to protect all but their faces from injury,” 
and, leaving the party, had added: 

‘^My name is Howard of the Fourteenth, and I 
can be found at any time.” 

But no one seemed anxious to ‘‘find” the brawny 
American — he was not sought. 

His brother officers, hearing of the incident, 
laughed and joked him about his “hot Southern 
temper,” but the troopers took a different view of 
the matter. They appreciated the way that one of 
their officers had defended the reputation of the 
privates of the regiment and became devoted to 
“Big George.” 

General Morrison’s judgment had been correct 
when he selected his commander of cavalry, detailed 
for scouting service. Tireless, fearless, irresistible. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


95 


Howard’s command gave the enemy no rest, no 
peace. Following the tactics that he had learned in 
Indian campaigns, the American officer never 
allowed the enemy an hour’s rest if untiring vigilance 
could prevent it. 

With little to eat, except the hurriedly cooked 
flesh of the half- wild cattle of the pampas, and less 
sleep, Howard and his sun-tanned troopers would 
sweep around the American Army, driving before 
them the weary and demoralized South American 
horsemen. 

Never pausing to count his adversaries. Colonel 
Howard had many dangerous experiences when, but 
for the utter absence of fear in the man, and the 
supreme confidence that he felt in the ability of his 
men to whip any enemy, no matter how numerous, 
he and his command had certainly been destroyed. 

General Morrison, who was never miserly in 
giving praise where it was due, was so exceedingly 
pronounced in his admiration for his ‘Hron Cavalry 
and its splendid Commander” that his daughter 
(and what daughter of Eve was ever different?) 
became curious to see this model specimen of Amer- 
ican cavalrymen. 

However, it so happened that when Helen was with 
her father, duty kept Howard in the saddle and 
away from headquarters. 

In a wild raid that Howard had made far along 


96 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


La Platte river for the purpose of dispersing a force 
of the enemy said to be gathering in that section, he, 
with one troop of his regiment, became separated 
from the main body of men under his command. 

While endeavoring to rejoin the regiment, the 
Colonel and the one troop with him were entrapped 
and surrounded by an overwhelming force of the 
enemy. In the fierce fight that followed many a 
brave fellow of the 14th gave his life for his flag, 
ere the Americans could cut their way through the 
cordon of foes around them. 

Supporting a wounded trooper on his horse with 
one hand, Howard, at the head of his few followers, 
fell upon one spot in the hedge of flame and steel 
about him and fairly chopped his way out with his 
sword — but not until a saber stroke had laid open 
his cheek from eye to chin. 

The firing had attracted the attention of the other 
and larger part of the American force who, as the 
troop with Howard dashed through the enemy, 
came galloping over the rolling pampas. Howard 
only paused long enough to tear off his sash and bind 
up the gash in his face, then whirling around the troop 
with him, leaving his wounded in care of a guard, 
at the head of his now united command, he rushed 
back upon the enemy for revenge. 

Quick and terrible was the penalty paid by the 
foemen for their temerity in attacking the ‘‘Blonde 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


97 


Devil,” but 'when they broke in wild disorder, they 
had the joy of seeing the American commander reel 
from his saddle and fall, shot in the body. 

After the terrible experience at Montevideo, Helen 
Morrison had joined her father at Buenos Ayres, the 
General finding, as he had, that no place in South 
America was as safe a haven for his daughter as the 
spot surrounded by American bayonets. 

At Buenos Ayres was established the general hos- 
pital of the United States army under Morrison’s 
command. Helen, with the assistance of the few 
American women in the city, organized a corps of 
nurses to attend upon the sick and wounded soldiers 
as they were brought from the different scenes of 
conflict to the hospital at headquarters. 

One day as she passed from cot to cot in the ward 
assigned to the use of the private soldiers, when she 
neared that end of the room that had been partly par- 
titioned off for the accommodation of sick and 
wounded officers, she heard a loud, commanding 
voice, roaring forth orders as if addressing troops in 
battle. 

‘‘Steady on the right! By platoon! Steady, 
men! Steady! Trot! Gallop! Charge! Come, 
follow me! 

The walls of the old building fairly trembled as 
the thunderous tones rolled along its rafters. Helen 
stood still in amazement at such an unusual outburst 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


in a place generally so quiet, whose stillness was 
seldom broken except by the groan of some sufferer. 

‘^It’s our Colonel, marm I” said the stricken soldier 
by whose cot she was standing, and struggling up 
he raised himself on one elbow, a flash of fire coming 
in his fevered eyes, he added in a voice husky from 
weakness, as he listened to the orders : 

‘^Big George is off his head; he thinks he’s lead- 
ing us.” 

Men all around began moving, some striving to 
get on their feet, all excited and nervous as the com- 
mands came sweeping like the blast of a great war 
trumpet through the wards of the hospital. 

Quiet him, marm, for God sake! Quiet him. 
All the Fourteenth men here’ll go wild, sure, if he 
keeps that up,” said the soldier who had first spoken. 

‘‘Who is your Colonel, my good fellow,” ex- 
claimed Helen in astonishment at the effect of the 
voice on the wounded men about her. 

“Ain’t you the General’s daughter?” asked the 
man. 

“Yes, General Morrison is my father,” replied 
Helen. 

“And you don’t know that the Colonel of the Four- 
teenth is ‘Big George,’ Colonel Howard,” and, as a 
twinge of pain shot through his body, the trooper 
nearly yelled as he fell back on his pillow. 

“By God! We know and will follow him to hell!” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


99 


This young woman had been much in camps and 
among the rough, great-hearted braves of the United 
States army and was not nearly so much shocked 
by the soldier’s profanity, as some of the perfumed 
dames of society would have deemed proper. She 
adjusted the pillow under the head of the poor fellow 
who lay panting from the exhaustion occasioned by 
his late effort, and hurried around the end of the par- 
tition whence issued the, to the 14th men, exciting 
words of command. 

In the delirium of fever ‘^Big George,”’ as the 
men lovingly called him, had torn the bandage from 
his face, and as Helen entered the partitioned off part 
of the ward which was reserved for the use of the 
wounded commissioned officers, a fearful and grand 
spectacle was before her. 

Blood was flowing down the great fair beard of the 
giant officer, coming from the cut on his cheek, and 
dying with its ruddy hue, the snowy whiteness of the 
skin below the collar where the sun’s rays had not 
penetrated, and streaking with scarlet the mass of 
golden hair that covered the grand chest exposed by 
the unfastened garment around his body. 

One bare arm was extended, the clinching hand 
making all the massive muscles of the magnificent 
limb hard and clearly traced as if cut in whitest 
marble. Fever had bereft the man of his senses. 
With widely opened blue eyes fairly aflame, wildly 


100 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


waving his clinched hand in the air, he shouted 
forth the orders that had aroused the men of the 14th 
lying near him. 

Masculine muscularity carried to that degree of per- 
fection, as seen in Howard’s splendid structure, be- 
comes sublime! Helen paused and gazed in wonder 
on the grandeur of the noble physique before her. 
Like some grand specimen of the kings of the desert, 
some great tawny lion lying wounded, dying, roar- 
ing in his death agony defiance, lay this glorious 
type of American manhood. 

When women, the purest, the most modest, best, 
most delicate, and truest cease to be attracted, 
thrilled, imperceptibly and innocently influenced 
when manhood in grand perfection is presented, then 
shall mankind disappear from this God created earth. 

Helen Morrison was a woman — a woman of flesh 
and blood, not an abnormal product of aesthetic cul- 
ture, deprived, dwarfed and deformed in every 
natural inclination and feeling that since Eve has 
been general in the mothers of mankind. Were 
good, the best, women otherwise, you, kind reader, 
had not been here to read nor I to write this story. 

Helen, with soothing sentences, approached the 
couch of the sufferer, with fingers somewhat trem- 
bling, as the fiery eyes of the fevered patient glared at 
her, replaced the bandages that he had torn from his 
head, and with cool water washed away the gory 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


101 


stains from the fair beard, neck and breast of the 
now silenced soldier, but not without modesty’s flag 
of flame flying on the sweet face that bent over the 
soft, gentle hands deft and busy. 

The sight of Helen seemed to cause reason to 
struggle to reassert its sway in the mind of the 
sufferer; gradually there came a look of wonder in 
the e3'es of the now submissive patient as he watched 
the gentle ministrations of the kind hands that so 
carefully tended him. Soothed, quieted, he finally 
fell asleep with Helen’s cool hands bathing his hot 
forehead. 

When the deep breathing of the sleeper told her 
that he would remain quiet, Helen had not been Eve’s 
daughter, had she failed in taking awa}^ from his 
forehead the hand that had tranquilized the fever- 
stricken soldier, to feel the silky texture of the flossy 
golden-hued curls that covered the hot head of the 
sleeper giant, and to wonder at its softness and 
beauty. 

As the General’s daughter passed, on her way out 
of the ward, the cot of the soldier w^ith whom she 
had spoken before visiting her last patient, she saw 
that he was sitting up apparently waiting for her 
coming. As she went by him, he said: 

‘^Beg pardon. Miss, but the boys say I swore just 
now, when you were here ; I didn’t mean to. Miss, 
wouldn’t say anything wrong for anything before you. 


102 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Miss, truly” — and the man seemed so concerned and 
anxious that she should believe him that she smiled 
as he added:' 

‘‘We are a little rough, Miss, but your father, the 
General, will say we are ready always for duty.” 

Helen amused at the poor fellow’s evident serious- 
ness, and sincere regret, said to him: 

“Never mind, my good fellow, I know soldiers. 
I have been among them all my life. It is no sur- 
prise if the Fourteenth be rough, their Colonel seems 
a rough enough example.” 

“We don’t learn it from the Colonel, Miss, sure!” 
said the soldier, quick in defense of his leader. 

“He’s pretty bad in a fight. Miss, that’s natural 
enough, but Big George can be mighty gentle, too. 
Why ! Miss, when the Dagoes thought they had us, 
and it looked like they did, he yells at me as I was 
falling off my horse, “Grip with your knees, Hollins, 
I’ll hold you,” and he holds on to me with one 
hand and cuts — I Well the life out the Dagoes as 
we rush over them.” 

“No wonder you praise your Colonel. You ought 
to feel grateful as he saved your life, you say,” re- 
plied Helen, becoming more and more interested as 
the soldier proceeded. 

“Yes, marm, he did save me, and I am a bad lot; 
he’s had no end of trouble with me, but he stands by 
his men in danger, no matter how bad they are. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


103 


I seen him tend to the worst devil in our troop when 
he was sick, and just as nice as you would, Miss.” 

‘^It is a good thing,” said Helen, as she started to 
move on, ^^for an officer to care for his own men.” 

^”Taint only his own men. Miss, that our Colonel 
is kind to,” exclaimed the trooper, determined that 
Helen should duly appreciate his commander, and as 
she paused, he continued: 

‘H seen him the time the Dago shot at him after 
the yellow snake had surrendered, and we caught 
the dog as he was making for the bushes and was 
goin’ to hang him, give the varment his life just be- 
cause a little chap of a Dago boy, dirty and howlin’ , 
comes up and begs Big George not to let us hang his 
daddy. The Colonel turns to us and says ‘Turn 
him loose, boys,’ and tells the little brown chap to 
take his daddy. No, Miss! Don’t think the Colonel 
is like us. Miss! He’s all right, sure, but he’s of! his 
head to-day, that makes him rough.” 

When Helen at dinner told her father of her ex- 
perience that morning, he exclaimed: 

didn’t know Howard was here, he must have 
arrived last night with the wounded from the interior. 
I will see him at once. He shall have every atten- 
tion. He is the best and bravest cavalry officer in 
the American Army.” 

Howard’s raid and the battle that followed, in 
which Howard was wounded, was the last clash of 


104 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


arms before tranquility was restored in South Amer- 
ica. The wounds received by the colonel of the 14th 
did not prove as dangerous as at first was supposed. 

The simple fare of the hardy soldier, constant ex- 
ercise and freedom from vicious indulgence, caused 
his condition to be such that the wounds healed 
quickly, the cut across the. cheek first, and the gun- 
shot wound soon after, inasmuch as no vital spot had 
been touched by the bullet in its passage. 

General Morrison was unremitting in his care of, 
and attention to the wounded cavalryman to whose 
unceasing and arduous services the General was in- 
debted largely for the successful termination of 
hostilities. The American commander-in-chief 
called often at the hospital where Howard insisted 
upon remaining, ^^to be with my boys,” he said. 
Helen, at the head of the American volunteer nurses, 
of course, saw him daily. 

Colonel Howard’s association with women had 
been exceedingly limited. While at the Virginia 
Institute, he was much more interested in sport than 
society, and since entering the army his duty had so 
placed him as to make society of women unattain- 
able. Unwashed squaws and incomprehensible 
Chinese women possessed no attraction for the 
Virginian. 

Some men are ‘ladies’ men” and some are men’s 
men; Howard was one of the latter. When a man’s 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


105 


man admires a woman for the first time in his life, 
he does not measure nor qualify his admiration, it is 
unbounded. 

In the thirty-two years of Howard’s life he had never 
seen a woman save his mother that excited his ad- 
miration until he met Helen Morrison. 

Had he been a ^ ^ladies’ man,” he had certainly 
made love to her, but being a man’s man he deemed 
her so far above and beyond him, so much better 
than a rough bear of a soldier,” deemed himself 
so unworthy by comparison that he did not presume 
to make love to Helen. 

In that chivalric, knightly, old Virginia fashion, 
as Howard thought of the woman he admired, in his 
mind he placed her on a pedestal and worshiped her. 

' The adjustment of the differences between the re- 
publics, and the permanent pacification of the conti- 
nent, kept General Morrison at his post several 
months after actual fighting had ceased, during which 
time Howard entirely recovered from the effect of 
the wounds that he had received in the last fight of 
the war. 

Helen was a superb horsewoman. Her beautiful, 
round figure displayed by the close fitting habit, 
sitting straight as an arrow in the saddle, was a sight 
for gods and men, but when accompanied by the 
' great blonde cavalryman, who rode like a centaur, 
the picture that the magnificent couple presented as. 


106 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


at a sweeping gallop, they crossed the rolling plains 
around the Argentine capital, was grand, glorious. 

Often during the last few weeks of the General’s 
stay in South America did Helen and Howard ride 
together. Much of the timidity of manner with 
which Howard treated Helen at first, disappeared as 
their acquaintance ripened into a genuine friendship 
— possibly sometimes the tones of his voice grew 
tender as he spoke to her — maybe he held her a brief 
second longer and closer than was absolutely neces- 
sary when he lifted her from the saddle. But he 
never named love to the woman that he adored. 
He did not dare do so — for the first time in the brave 
man’s life he felt fear. 

When General Morrison with his daughter sailed 
for America, he left his trusty chief of cavalry be- 
hind him, to superintend the departure of the American 
soldiers then ready to leave the continent as soon as 
transport ships arrived. 

As Howard held Helen’s hand at parting, he asked 
with ill-concealed anxiety: 

‘^May I call on you when I return to the United 
States?” 

‘‘How can you ask that question? If you do not 
come to see me within a week after landing in the 
Great Republic, I shall be awfully angry,” said Helen 
looking up at the blue eyes that regarded her so 
tenderly. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


107 


‘‘All ashore! All ashore!” sounded along the vessel 
and the horrible screaming of the steamship’s whistle 
drowned every word spoken. Had there only been 
five minutes’ time for quiet conversation, Howard 
might have well, no matter, we will know later. 


CHAPTER VI. 


America in A. D. 19 — 

TyTHILE General Morrison was aware that his con- 
duct of the war in South America and subse- 
quent negotiations between the republics of that con- 
tinent and the Great Republic of the North, had been 
satisfactory to his government, he was unprepared 
for the overwhelming popularity that greeted him 
upon his arrival in the United States. 

Scarcely less popular than her father, Helen was 
met wherever she went with outbursts of demonstra- 
tive affection on the part of her approving and admir- 
ing fellow-citizens. 

Among Helen’s earliest callers, after her arrival in 
New York, were the representatives of the great 
Trust Company, which had for so many years con- 
trolled her fortune. When she informed them of her 
decision regarding the disposition of the many mil- 
lions that they held subject to her order, the old 
financiers astonished, and confused by such magnif- 
icent generosity, exclaimed: 

‘Ht is a noble, a superb sentiment and intention, 
Miss Morrison, but — ” the old gentlemen got no 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


109 


further in their remonstrance, for Helen quickly 
finished the sentence by saying: 

^‘But, my father entirely approves of my decision 
in this matter, and of course that ends any further 
discussion of the question.” 

Thus silenced and convinced of the young woman’s 
sincerity and unalterable determination to donate the 
vast Vanness fortune to a board of non-sectarian 
charities, to be utilized by it for the benefit of her 
needy fellow-citizens, the amazed and admiring 
financiers proceeded immediately to execute her 
wishes. 

General Morrison, commenting to his daughter on 
the apparent surprise of the Trustees when she had 
informed them of her desire in the premises, said, 
greatly amused at her account of the interview: 

‘‘Helen, I suppose that they privately call you an 
insane young woman.” 

“Well, sir,” rejoined Helen laughing, “I inherit 
that kind of insanity, it’s in the Morrison blood, I 
suspect, judging from my father’s conduct regarding 
this same fortune.”* 

“Then again,” said her father, “perhaps the pub- 
lic will say that we are bidding for popular favor; 
you know that my name is used in connection with 
the Presidency.” 

“High and great as is the position of President of 
the United States, one is not apt to offer more than 


110 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


twenty million for an opportunity to occupy*it,” re- 
plied Helen with some indignation at the mere sug- 
gestion of any ulterior object connected with her 
donation to charity, except the ultimate benefit to be 
conferred upon the unfortunate of her country. 

Had anything been needed to exalt the ‘^Heroine of 
Montevideo,” as the newspapers of America called 
Helen Morrison, in the hearts of the citizens of the 
Union, the account, as published throughout the 
country, of her unparalleled generosity in giving the 
entire sum of the great wealth that she had inherited, 
to charity, would certainly have accomplished the 
object. 

‘‘Our Helen” was the term universally adopted by 
the press of America in publishing anything concern- 
ing Helen Morrison. 

During the succeeding summer both conventions 
of the great political parties in the United States met 
and nominated General John Morrison for the Presi- 
dency by unanimous acclamation. 

Such an event as the nomination by both political 
parties of the same man for the Presidential office, 
had never even been dreamed of as possible by the 
American citizens who fought political campaigns 
with so much frenzy in the closing decades of the 
nineteenth century. 

A result so profoundly desirable as that of one man 
existing in the United States upon whom both politi- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


Ill 


cal parties could unite in naming a candidate for the 
chief executive office of the Union, had been pro- 
duced by a perfectly natural concatenation of cir- 
cumstances. 

The potency of the battle-cry of Protection by one 
great political party was lost in the adoption by the 
Americans of a policy of enlarging their sphere of 
influence and trade relations. 

The increased demand for the products of Amer- 
ican labor springing up wherever the flag of the 
nation was planted, and the competition of our coun- 
try for the possession of the trade of the world caused 
the cry of ‘‘home market” to be forgotten. 

The views of American manufacturers and mer- 
chants becoming broader and larger, under the new 
impetus given to our trade by the policy made 
necessary as a result of the Spanish war of 1898, they 
and the labor element demanded the removal of those 
restrictions that militated against them in the field of 
universal competition now open to them. 

Moved by the hope and ambition for domination 
in the world’s markets, they ceased being retail shop- 
keepers and aspired to and finally acquired the posi- 
tion of merchants. 

The imperative demand for a fixed, certain and 
universally recognized value in the money of Amer- 
ica, as a result of our forsaking the policy of isolation 
and restriction and entrance upon the world’s field of 


112 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


trade, caused the cry of enthusiastic advocates of 
changes in the coinage of the United States to be- 
come silent. 

Thus the two great political parties, emasculated of 
all potential qualifications, which formerly had 
aroused such intense interest among the citizens of the 
country, by the operation of that grander and nobler 
policy that had been thrust upon the nation during 
the Spanish war in an irresistible manner caused by 
events beyond the control of either party, ceased to 
divide the nation, except in relation to the foreign 
policy of the United States. 

The eminent services rendered by General John 
Morrison to the nation, his unquestionable integrity, 
his unblemished moral character and undoubted 
patriotism, together with the fact that he was the very 
personification of the sentiment, Anglo-Saxons, On- 
ward! a sentiment with which the entire nation was 
fairly saturated, made him the spontaneous selection 
of the whole people as the man for the position of 
President of the United States. 

The fundamental element in creed of both of the 
great political parties in the Union, as in the princi- 
ples of the individual American, was Extension, Ad- 
vancement and Glory for the Great Republic. 

Hence the only point, even in relation to the 
foreign policy of the nation, where differences of 
opinion existed was as to the means and methods to 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


118 


be adopted in extending the field of usefulness, atid 
influence of the nation. 

Both of the venerable great political organizations 
were divided, split upon this question. That portion 
of both parties, whose ancestors had for generations 
back been citizens of the United States, advocated 
the unreserved, unlimited and unqualified alliance 
of the descendants of the Anglo-Saxon race. 

In other words, the plain and open declaration to 
the World that Great Britain and America continuously 
and permanently, by solemn and frankly avowed 
agreement, would act as one, standing shoulder to 
shoulder on all questions of interest to mankind in 
general throughout the universe. 

Another portion of each political party, whose 
progenitors had more recently emigrated from 
Europe to the United States, maintained that while 
the co-operation of Great Britain was desirable and 
often necessary, such co-operation ought to be se- 
cured only when absolutely necessary, and then solely 
as a transitory semi-alliance of sentimental origin. 

Thus the only question of importance before the 
nation when John Morrison was elected as President 
of the Republic, was how far and how permanent the 
Anglo-Saxon alliance should extend and be.^ 

The Senatorial chairs in the American Congress 
were filled v/ith statesmen, not petty politicians who 
ever attempt to investigate subjects of universal im- 


lu ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 

portance to Christendom with microscopic eyes; 
whose narrow field of vision ever fail to encompass 
that, that is grand, unselfish, sublime, noble in treaties 
between great nations. 

The United States Senate, when Morrison became 
President, was so evenly divided regarding the 
single question of moment to the people of America, 
that the influence of the Chief Executive cast with 
either side would promptly turn the scale; this was 
markedly so in the case of President Morrison be- 
cause of his overpowering popularity with the entire 
population of the country. 

All the nations of earth clearly comprehended that 
a permanent and firmly held alliance between Amer- 
ica and Great Britain was the creation of an over- 
whelming combination. That such an alliance gave 
to the Anglo-Saxons the domination of the whole 
of this terrestrial sphere and enabled them at will to 
change the map of the world. 

Hence, President Morrison, as soon as he was- 
placed at the head of the American government, 
became the object of intense interest among the 
statesmen of Europe, and the President’s fair daugh- 
ter, when she became mistress of the White House, 
shared with her father the eager attention of the 
diplomatists of all the nations of earth. 

Morrison had not been a political soldier, therefore 
had expressed no opinion concerning the formation 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


115 


of a permanent contract with Great Britain by the 
United States, prior to his election and inauguration 
as President, and even after those two events, he still 
failed to indicate his policy in that particular, there- 
fore Washington City, during the months succeed- 
ing his induction into office, became the center of 
interest and intrigue in diplomatic circles. 

To prevent the confirmation of a treaty between 
the two great English-speaking nations was the ob- 
ject of every European government other than Great 
Britain, and most especially the aim of Russia. 

President Morrison’s cold, formal and dignified 
manner kept the most daring diplomatist at a respect- 
ful distance. Helen, however, being more approach- 
able became the recipient of profuse and constant 
attention from the representatives of all the foreign 
governments except Great Britain. 

It was after some months of incessant attention to 
the subject that the Russian Ambassador at Wash- 
ington, misunderstanding Helen’s gift of her fortune 
to charity, finding her impervious to the common- 
place compliments usually adopted to gain a woman’s 
favor, decided that Helen Morrison possessed the 
ambition to become a titled lady, and had resorted to 
the costly expedient of giving away twenty millions 
that she might become the most influential female 
figure upon the stage of American political life, where 


116 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARDl 


was enacting a drama of momentous concern to 
kings and princes. 

He notified his chief at St. Petersburg, Prince 
Gourkoff , of the conclusion he had arrived at, adding; 
that no bait would be tempting to the American 
woman, whose influence with her father was so 
powerful, that did not stand near a throne. 

After much consideration and the passing of many 
lengthy communications between the Russian Am- 
bassador at Washington and Prince Gourkoff in the 
Russian Capital, the Prince placed before his Sov- 
ereign, Czar Ivan III., the project of sending Vlad- 
imar to America to play upon the ambitious tendencies, 
of the President’s popular daughter until Russia’s de- 
signs upon her eastern frontier were accomplished ; 
the suggestion, however, was met when first presented 
to the Czar with a prompt refusal of endorsement, 
His Majesty saying to Gourkoff in the pride of 
his position: 

“It is not to be thought of, Gourkoff I No rep- 
resentative of the house of Russia shall bow to the 
low place of lover to a woman of common birth, like 
this American; I mean, of course, save in a morgan- 
atic manner.” 

Gourkoff, in his many years of service, had often 
been forced to combat the views of the Autocrat of 
Russia, so had become accustomed to the contest,, 
and prepared to enter upon the conflict by saying : 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


117 


^ ‘Your Majesty, while I admit that the very propo- 
sition is humiliating, still, as a faithful servant of the 
crown, I am forced to call your attention to the 
necessity for enduring the temporary mortification 
that you naturally feel. An end so glorious as the 
acquisition of European Turkey, including Constan- 
tinople, by Russia, would justify the adoption of 
almost any means for its accomplishment.’* 

The Prince paused to allow his royal master’s mind 
to dwell upon the enticing prospect, then continued: 

“By keeping American aid away from Great 
Britain, we can realize now, in your reign. Your 
Majesty, the grand dream of Russia for centuries. 
Since the great Czar Peter we Russians have dreamed 
of, and planned for, the realization of the fond hope 
that the Russian standard should one day wave above 
the minarets of Constantinople. The day has come, 
Your Majesty! Shall the necessary suffering of 
Russian pride bar the way to the splendid accomplish- 
ment resulting from centuries of planning and hoping? 

The diplomatist became silent as his master, with 
impatient steps walked to the window of the palace, 
and musingly looked forth, as if recalling the long 
line of Russian rulers, who had, in fancy, seen the 
capital of the old Roman Empire a Russian city. 

At last the Czar exclaimed : 

“Why not buy the woman’s influence with her 
father, as you do the women in European courts, cash. 


118 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


diamonds, and ermine robes will purchase any 
woman ! 

‘‘But not this American woman, Your Majesty — 
she cares nothing for the things that win most women 
— she has just given away twenty millions of Ameri- 
can dollars to be used for charitable purposes,” 
quickly rejoined the diplomatist. 

“Then purchase the votes of a few Senators, as 
the Yankees call the members of the chamber where 
treaties are ratified,” suggested the Czar. 

“Your Majesty has fallen into a very natural error 
arising from reading American journals. In that 
land of unbridled liberty to the press, most reckless 
statements are published concerning public men ; 
statements that if published in Russia would send 
the publishers to Siberia. As a matter of fact it is a 
subject of wonder to Europeans that the party in 
power in the United States may change once every 
four years; still the incoming administration ever 
finds the accounts of that fortunate nation absolutely 
correct,” answered Gourkoff, more accurately in- 
formed concerning the idiosyncrasies of the Ameri- 
can press than his autocratic master. 

“Surely there are a few men in the Senate that 
money will influence,” impatiently exclaimed the 
Czar. 

“That was an error, permit me. Your Majesty, to 
recall to your attention, that precipitated the ruin of 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


119 


Spain in the war of 1898. America had been so long 
regarded as a nation of shop-keepers that the Span- 
ish, presuming upon that idea, felt sure that no matter 
what the outrage offered to American honor might 
be, it would not be resented, as resenting a national 
insult means war, and war means loss of money, but 
Spain was mistaken.” 

The Prince paused and proceeding more deliber- 
ately, added: 

Strange as it then seemed, the Yankee Senators, 
many of them holding large interests in property that 
surely would depreciate in value in case of war, and 
in spite of published insinuations and open charges — 
with the patriotism of the old Roman Republic, 
throwing aside selfish considerations and political 
affiliations — voted to resent Spanish injury and out- 
rage, and, all unprepared as the United States was, 
declared war against Spain.” 

^^Why not tempt the American government by a 
favorable commercial treaty? America is a trading 
nation,” inquired the baffled ruler of millions of 
human beings. 

^‘Simply, sire, because we have nothing to offer of 
sufficient importance to tempt the Americans. Since 
the adoption of the new policy of extension — expan- 
sion by the American Republic, which followed the 
Spanish war of which I had the honor of speaking 
to Your Majesty just now, the United States has 


120 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


become a perfect paradise of prosperity. The teem- 
ing soil gives forth high-priced products, making 
happy and prosperous the agriculturists, the whirling 
wheels of the factories produce goods for which 
there is an endless demand, causing contentment and 
joy to be the constant companions of the artisans of 
that blessed nation,” complacently responded the 
cautious minister who had prepared himself for the 
defense of his project, of sending Vladimar to 
America, by informing himself fully concerning the 
domestic affairs of the United States. 

^Tt seems to me. Prince Gourkoff,” exclaimed 
Czar Ivan, impatiently, and annoyed at the rebuffs 
his alternative suggestions had received, ‘‘that you 
give an entirely too important position to America 
as a factor in your calculations. The Army of the 
United States is insignificant even should it be added 
to the British forces.” 

“Most humbly do I beg Your Majesty to permit me 
to suggest that you are misinformed. America has an 
army of at least five and possibly ten million men,” 
said Prince Gourkoff, with apparently great humility. 

“Nonsense!” exclaimed His Majesty in angry 
tones; “you are presuming upon my credulity, but I 
have the number accurate, our attache at Washington 
furnished it. The army of the United States is two 
hundred and sixty-one thousand men.” 

“Your Majesty is correctly informed, that is the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


121 


number of the Regular or Standing Army of Amer- 
ica, but I refer to the militia and volunteers who 
would promptly respond should a call be made by 
their government for their services,’’ calmly replied 
the Prince. 

‘^In your five or ten million figure you refer then 
to a lot of raw recruits taken from the fields and 
shops of America, who would run away at the very 
sight of Russia’s regular soldiers. Fie! Prince, I 
thought you knew me better than to attempt to 
delude me with such poor material for a spectre,” 
said the Czar with exultation at the idea of beating 
his minister. 

‘‘Your Majesty will permit me, I trust, to call to 
your memory the history of the United States ; by 
so doing, sire, you will recall the fact that the militia 
and volunteers of America, of whom you were 
pleased just now to speak so contemptuously, have 
time and again met and vanquished the best trained 
soldiers of Europe.” 

“In face of the fact that history recorded the 
efficiency of the American volunteers, Spain required 
the severe castigation that she received at the end of 
the nineteenth century before she could realize the 
truthfulness of the record. The whole of Europe, 
except Great Britain, blind to historical certainties, 
refused to entertain the idea that volunteers could 
meet successfully trained soldiers, until in that Span- 


122 


ANGLO-SAXONS ONWARD! 


ish war the Americans fairly jammed the fact down 
the throat of the world.” 

did not know that one of my ministers was suck 
an admirer of Americans,” replied with irritation 
His Majesty. 

‘‘Appreciate a danger, Your hfajesty, and half the 
danger is removed. The truth is that the Americans 
possess many peculiar .characteristics that render 
them quickly excellent soldiers. They have the pro- 
verbial courage of the Anglo-Saxon race. That 
quality of never knowing when they are defeated, 
like the English, from whom doubtless the Americans 
inherit it, and in addition, a certain individuality 
that enables them to grasp a situation in warfare, and 
utilize every advantage possible, as if by intuition, 
without waiting for the commands of an officer,” 
answered the Prince, and knowing that his master 
had exhausted every argument that could be offered 
against his project, the skillful follower of Richelieu 
waited in silence, until the conflict between pride 
and craving for increased power that he knew was 
waging in Czar Ivan’s bosom had ended. 

, “In the event that I accept this distasteful alter- 
native, when do you wish Vladimar to sail for the 
land of the Yankees ?” inquired the Czar finally in 
petulant tone. 

“Not until autumn. Your Majesty, and for the fol- 
lowing reasons : British ships hold the Dardanelles, 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


123 


and under pretense of restoring order in the Turkish 
Empire, and ending the massacre of Armenian Chris- 
tians, a British army occupies Constantinople; of 
course England claims to be acting as the friend of 
Turkey, declaring that had the British not cham- 
pioned the cause of the Christians in Turkey, that 
Russia as in a former war had been quick to do so 
for the purpose of absorbing the Empire of the 
Crescent.” 

Gourkoff was interrupted in the recital of his 
reasons for delay by the Czar, who exclaimed: 

“Why not hurl an overwhelming Russian army on 
the comparatively small British force in Turkey, 
drive it from the country, and negotiate afterWards?” 

“Simply, sire, because England as mistress of the 
sea could reinforce her army in Turkey with a vast 
number of soldiers drawn from every quarter of her 
great domain before we could mobilize a sufficient 
force to attack Constantinople. Turkey would assist 
Great Britain.” 

“Before the echo of the first gun fired by the 
Russian advance had been lost, we would find 
American ships in the Dardanelles loaded with the 
Yankee army now occupying Palestine, coming to 
the aid of their accursed ‘kin across the sea,’ ” replied 
the Russian diplomatist. 

“Well!” interrupted the discomforted autocrat. 


124 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


^‘arrange the pawns on the chess board, and let me 
see the moves you intend making.” 

Gourkoff knowing now that he had triumphed in 
the contest for the adoption of his plan of operation, 
with elation responded: 

‘‘We will create a feeling of irritation against the 
English in Turkey during this autumn and winter, 
by the use of emissaries and money among the 
Turks. When spring arrives I expect to find Turkey 
anxious to join Russia in expelling the British from 
Constantinople. I, myself, will accompany Vladi- 
mar to the United States, and hope to be able by 
holding out the prospect of a throne to this ambitious 
American woman, to so utilize her influence with her 
father, the President, that he will withhold any treaty 
with Great Britain from the Senate.” 

And the Prince, whose very soul was devoted to 
Russia, exclaimed in exultation: 

“Then I Your Majesty, when next spring comes, 
England shorn of every friend stands naked*and 
alone before us. She is brave and will fight, but 
Russia will crush her. Driven from Turkey, the 
soldiers of the Great White Czar, my royal master, 
shall follow the retreating colors of England through 
Afghanistan on, on, on until the Russian flag is 
planted by the Ganges.” 

The Czar, excited by the bright picture so deftly 
spread before him by his enthusiastic minister, ex- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


125 


claimed, rising from his chair flushed and delighted: 

‘^Proceed with your plan, Prince Gourkoff, as 
you have arranged it; you have my authority. Send 
Vladimar to me, that I may in person give him my 
instructions.” 

Unconscious that she had become an object of solic- 
itude to the Autocrat of all the Russias and his 
astute adviser, Helen Morrison, with that ready 
adaptability that is ever a noticeable characteristic 
of the American woman, assumed the duties of “first 
lady in the land,” and presided with graceful dignity 
over the National Mansion of the President, the 
White House. 

‘‘Old stories were recalled of a former mistress of 
the White House, who came as the bride of the then 
President, Grover Cleveland,' to preside over the 
mansion, and by the beauty of her character, the 
sweetness and frankness of her manner, together 
with the charm that a handsome young woman 
always possesses, gave unusual attractiveness to the 
home of the Nation’s Chief Executive. 

Surrounded by intriguing diplomatists and surfeited 
with senseless flattery and undesired attentions, Helen 
sighed for disinterested companionship, and would 
often recall that great cavalier with whom she had 
so often galloped over the broad pampas of the 
Argentine . 

Sweet Edith Mountford, the daughter of Sir Ralph 


126 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Mountford, who as Ambassador represented Great 
Britain at the American Capital, was Helen’s most 
intimate associate. In character, the gentle, affec- 
tionate, artless English girl was so unlike the many 
who paid court to the young mistress of the White 
House that as Helen expressed it: 

‘Ht is a positive relief, Edith, to be with you. I 
become so weary of jabbering French and listening 
to foolish flattery, that I feel like taking wings and 
flying away.” 

And when the literal little English woman inquired 
artlessly : 

‘‘Why, where would you fly to?” 

Helen answered as if giving expression to some 
thought that lay buried in the holy of the holiest of 
her heart: 

“To South America,” and blushed violently, as 
the idea occurred to her that in the suddenness of the 
question, her secret may have stolen from her heart 
to her lips. 

Often the pony phaeton from the White House 
would dash along the delightful drives around Wash- 
ington, the President’s popular daughter, who was an 
expert driver, hold the reins over the horses and the 
fair English maiden seated beside her. 

Sir Ralph Mountford, who had resided for many 
years in America, was fully cognizant of the exist- 
ence of that essentially English idiosyncrasy of the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


127 


American character that resented the interference, 
or any attempted exercise of influence by foreigners, 
in the domestic affairs of the United States, and 
fully comprehended the sensitiveness of the Great 
Republic regarding this particular point. ' 

While, therefore, the ambassadors and representa- 
tives of other nations at Washington were using every 
means, and exercising all their ingenuity in the 
endeavor to influence the course of America’s action 
regarding a permanent Anglo-Saxon alliance. Sir 
Ralph, representing the government most interested, 
remained perfectly quiescent, reporting to the 
Premier in England: 

‘‘The ambassador of Great Britain, accredited to 
the American government, best represents British 
interest who interferes least with the natural impulses 
of the Americans’ Anglo-Saxon hearts and heads.” 

When General Morrison left South America for 
the United States, he expected to be followed within 
certainly a few weeks, by his chief of cavalry, to 
whom he left the duty of seeing to the embarkation 
of the American troops stationed in the Southern 
Continent, but that expectation was not realized. 

For more than a year Colonel Howard was detained 
in South America by numerous petty uprisings, and 
the trifling and wrangling of the mercurial Southern- 
ers, whose motto ever seems to be, “To-morrow.” 

Howard heard in far-off South America of the 


128 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


reception accorded his chief upon his arrival in the 
United States. He heard also of how Helen had 
given away her fortune, and finally of General Morri- 
son’s nomination and election to the Presidency of 
the Republic. 

The great, loyal, loving heart of the brave man 
who read the account of the elevation of his idol to 
the utmost height possible in America had no feeling 
of regret in it. The man grew more quiet and 
thoughtful, more given to solitary rides in the dark- 
ness, riding in the stillness and starlight over roads 
hallowed by the recollection of never-to-be-repeated 
gallops over the wide pampas with his heart’s queen, 
the adored Helen. 

‘‘Further away than ever, too far, too late,” would 
the soldier say softly as if addressing the silent star 
shining so far above him. 

His troopers, noticing his changed demeanor and 
distraut manner, muttered among themselves, and 
canvassing the matter in camp fashion, concluded: 

“Big George is weary and sick for the sound of 
battle. He is only happy when cutting and slash- 
ing.” 

The world is very like those troopers, it seldom 
sees beneath the surface, has no time for aught but 
superficial investigation, and the forming of its judg- 
ment from the most easily comprehended sj^mptoms. 

When at last Howard felt justified in reporting 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


lay 

that all trouble was ended, and that the necessity of 
remaining in South America no longer existed, 
promptly came the reply from the War Department: 

President Morrison sends his congratulations and 
orders your immediate embarkation with your com- 
mand, and hopes for your safe and speedy arrival in 
the United States.” 


CHAPTER VII. 


the Beauty of the LiliesB 

OLOWLY seemed to revolve the propellers of the 
^ steamships bearing the American cavalry from 
South America homeward to the impatient com- 
mander of the troops. The voyage appeared end- 
less, as day after, day Howard bore the tedium of 
seeing only the boundless water around him, and 
heard the monotonous throbbing of the ship’s 
machinery. 

When, exasperated almost beyond human endur- 
ance by the apparent snail-like pace of the trans- 
ports, the restless Virginian expostulated with the 
commander of the fleet, the old naval officer ex- 
claimed : 

‘‘Bless my soul! Colonel, one would think that 
you had a wife or sweetheart in the United States, 
you are in such a hurry to get home. Surely, that 
can’t be so, for every officer in the army declares 
Colonel Howard is a woman hater.” 

“They certainly do me an injustice. Commodore, 
in calling me a woman hater, but it is true, I have 
neither wife nor sweetheart to cause my impatience 
to arrive quickly at home. I have been on foreign 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


131 


service so much in the last few years that I really 
am anxious to see the old land again.” 

The Commodore aimed better than he knew, for 
when Howard left him and began walking the 
almost motionless deck of the ship, he continually 
repeated to himself what the old seaman’s remarks 
had suggested. 

‘H have no wife, no sweetheart in America, nor 
ever shall have. Why am I in a hurry to seek pain 
and disappointment?” And then hurling impreca- 
tions at himself for his idiocy, determined to be more 
patient — but somehow failed most lamentably in the 
effort to become so. 

All things except time and space must have an 
ending, even a long and tedious voyage, and finally 
the Statue of Liberty guarding New York’s harbor 
was sighted; once again the ‘‘Fighting Fourteenth” 
marched on freedom’s sacred soil. 

Colonel Howard took passage on the first train 
leaving for Washington, “To report the arrival of 
the troops under my command to the War Depart- 
I ment.” That was what he said when leaving! 

Well! Maybe duty alone hurried the Virginian 
to Washington? 

Of course, after calling at the War Department, 
duty — only duty — took the recently returned soldier 
i to the White House, to pay his respects to the Presi- 
dent — only to see the President, you scarfed hero? 


132 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


^‘Howard, I am glad that you are here all safe 
and sound! Sit down, man! I want a long talk 
with you ; the men of diplomacy and politics shall 
wait for the man of the sword to-day.” Such was 
the hearty greeting with which the President met his 
comrade of the South American campaign. 

Helen will be delighted. We were talking only 
yesterday of our Southern experiences, and my 
daughter inquired when I expected the arrival of our 
cavalry,” thus unconsciously the President gave 
more pleasure to his hearer, than when he added: 

‘^You doubtless have heard that you are breveted 
Brigadier-General. I shall send to the Senate a 
recommendation that you receive a brigadier’s com- 
mission. No thanks necessary, Howard! God 
knows a soldier never more thoroughly won promo- 
tion than you have!” 

Many impatient politicians waiting in the ante- 
room muttered curses deep upon the devoted head of 
the cavalry officers, who detained the President from 
the hearing of their many and urgent supplications. 

Great as the honor was to have so long an inter- 
view with the President of the Great Republic, 
Howard was as anxious as the waiting politicians to 
have it ended, and welcomed with eagerness the 
opportunity of leaving, presented by the coming in 
of the President’s private secretary with the informa- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


133 


tion that a committee from the Senate had called to 
discuss the situation of affairs in Palestine. 

When the President bade good-bye to Howard, 
the Chief Executive said: 

‘‘Come and see us often, Howard! You are 
i always welcome. Go now and pay your respects to 
my daughter; it is her reception day.” 

Above the throng that filled the reception-room of 
the White House, towered the form of the broad- 
shouldered colonel of cavalry, all aglitter with the 
gold lace of the full-dress uniform of his arm of the 
j United States service. 

Helen was only half listening to the vapid nonsense 
of a lisping embryonic sprig of diplomacy, who, with 
f affected accent, was reiterating the sadly hackneyed 
compliments that she had grown used to, when, 
happening to glance at her approaching callers, she 
saw the bronzed face and splendid stature of her 
cavalier in those not forgotten gallops on the pampas 
of the Argentine. 

Poor little lisping embryo, you are entirely obsolete, 

' sunk into nothing! The peony flag flames on the 
fair face of the President’s daughter, as with both 
shapely hands extended toward those great brown 
ones of the soldier that are so eager to grasp them, 
Helen welcomes the home-coming of her former 
patient, saying, and saying it so earnestly : 

“I am so glad you have come home, I can feel 


1S4 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


now that I have one sure and sincere friend near 
me,” and almost as if speaking to herself she added: 

‘^You are so brave and strong, one feels safer 
when near you.” 

And Howard didn’t know the woman was in love 
with him! Nonsense! — No! You carping critic. 
Men who are brave, strong, and truly manly are not 
over-ready to rush to the conclusion that every 
woman who is pleased to hold them as friends must 
necessarily love them. 

It calls for a great deal more conceit than finds 
room in a brave bosom to exaggerate the expression 
of friendship made by a woman into an avowal of 
love. 

Howard may have been obtuse in the matter, but 
men of self-respect seldom care to place themselves 
in a position to receive a humiliating rebuff. Of 
course, to the professional woman-charmer self- 
respect is of small moment — he has none to speak of. 

The timid, gentle, little English woman, Edith 
Mountford, who was assisting Helen in entertaining 
the callers at the Executive Mansion this reception 
day, looked timidly up at the tall cavalryman as he 
was introduced to her as ‘^one of my very best friends” 
by the beaming Helen. As Howard bowed, Edith, 
with woman’s quick perception, noting the radiant 
countenance of the hostess, made the silent comment: 

‘‘You are awfully big, but she likes you greatly.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


135 


When the Colonel had taken leave' of them and 
there was a brief pause in the line of callers, Edith 
whispered to Helen : 

‘^Your giant friend, Colonel Howard, is a regular 
modern Coeur de Lion. Is he as brave and strong 
as he looks to be?” 

‘Hndeed, dear, he is so brave, so chivalric and so 
powerful, that you do the reputation of Richard I. of 
England no wrong by saying my friend is a modern 
duplication of Coeur de Lion.” Helen made answer, 
with more enthusiasm,, thought Edith, than she had 
ever heard the President’s daughter speak of any 
man, except her father. 

During the succeeding weeks Howard called often 
at the White House, where he always met the warm- 
est welcome, but ever found the young mistress of 
the mansion surrounded by a number of people. 

While not at all probable that the daring soldier 
could have gathered sufficient courage to declare his 
passion to its fair object, as a matter of fad no 
opportunity occurred even had he possessed the 
‘‘presumption” (as Howard thought it). 

On one occasion, when fate seemed propitious in 
permitting him to have a brief monopoly of Helen’s 
society, and he began to gather courage and confi- 
dence, surrounded by the intoxicating influence of 
love’s mystical power, in came the President, utterly 
unconscious that he was de trof^ happy, as he said, at 


136 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


being able to put aside subjects of ‘‘Policy,” “Diplo- 
macy” and talk “shop to one of my own trade, a 
soldier like you, Howard.” 

Afterwards it seemed, as Howard pondered over 
the proposition, such vast presumption for a rough 
soldier, who was more accustomed to the camp, and 
that, too, on the frontier or mid danger, than the 
parlor, to aspire to win the love of a woman like 
Helen Morrison, that after the one occasion, when 
carried away by the strength of his passion, he might 
have told his story had the interview not been inter- 
rupted, this soldier, who, when danger on the battle- 
field was greatest was most fearless, feared to risk 
his love’s displeasure and abandoned the idea of let- 
ting her know his heart’s secret. 

There was so much happiness for the man in the 
frankly expressed friendship of Helen for him, and 
the kindly, almost confidential, tone of their associa- 
tion that he feared to risk losing that that he already 
had by attempting to gain more. 

The very thought of the opinion that Helen would 
have of him, if mistaking her mere friendship for 
another sentiment, he should presume to speak words 
of love to her, as if encouraged to do so, was horri- 
ble to Howard. 

“She would think me a conceited ass!” I should 
appear as taking advantage of the frankness of her 
sweet nature. I’ll not risk losing her respect ! It is 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


137 


better, far better to hold fast to her precious friend- 
ship than incur the danger of having her regard me 
with contempt.” Such were the thoughts that decided 
the most reckless man in the American army to remain 
silent upon the subject he held most sacred and im- 
portant in his whole life. 

Howard was among the constant callers at the 
British Ambassador’s residence, and Edith Mount- 
ford’s feeling of a certain kind of awe f^or the Amer- 
ican officer, whom she had thought ‘‘awfully big” 
when she first saw him, by degrees passed away, and 
a most cordial friendship was established between 
the two such opposite examples of mankind. 

As Edith expressed it to Helen, when telling her 
how much she liked the great simple-hearted soldier, 
who in the ways of social folly was almost as inex- 
perienced as a boy. 

“I feel that it is a case of the mouse and lion 
when I am near Colonel Howard.” 

Edith, like almost all women, delighted in any- 
thing like a romance, intuitively, realized the adora- 
tion that Howard felt for her friend, the President’s 
daughter. In her innocent, artless manner the lova- 
ble little English maiden tried like the mouse to sever 
the cords of fear that entangled the courage of her 
lion-like friend, but apprehension had so strongly 
interwoven itself about its victim, that her efforts 
were futile. 


138 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


When a man truly loves a ’woman, his love encom- 
passes all those whom she appears to favor with her 
affection. Helen’s preference for the companion- 
ship of Edith was so marked, that Howard was never 
so happy, when deprived of Helen’s society, as when 
near the gentle creature who was blessed by hi& 
idol’s affection. 

At the numerous social functions that Howard- 
attended, and where Helen was sure to be encircled 
by a score of gallants, old and young, all anxious for 
the favor of the most influential person near the Pres- 
ident, the soldier felt himself at a great disadvan- 
tage ; he could not vie .with the carpet cavaliers in 
making flattering speeches, and to share his darling’s 
smiles with a throng of simpering sycophants was 
beyond the limit of his patience; hence, in disgust, 
at what the blunt cavalryman thought: 

‘‘The infernal nonsense of a lot of silly manikins” 
he would leave the circle around the great attraction 
and seek the side of quiet Edith Mountford. 

Those who noted the pronounced preference exhib- 
ited by the famous fighting cavalry officer for the 
company of the British Ambassador’s somewhat shy 
daughter, not dreaming of the one topic of conversa- 
tion when the strangely assorted couple were together, 
quickly concluded that there was sure to be an- 
other international marriage. Dame Rumor, ever 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


139 


ready to circulate the most recent gossip, gave the 
story a wide scattering. 

Of course, as is ever the case with all of Dame 
Rumor’s stories, those most interested are last 
to hear them. All unwitting of what people were say- 
ing, Edith and her constant, stalwart escort con- 
tinued, she in sympathy, he devotedly loving, to dis- 
cuss the one subject, Helen Morrison and her many 
perfections. 

Howard’s crude and clumsy devices to conceal his 
adoration for the fair Helen were perfectly transpar- 
ent, they were only worthy of the efforts of a great 
school-boy when first smitten by the charms of some 
laughing lassie, and even innocent Edith saw through 
the effort making as the Virginian followed with 
eager glances the figure of his heart’s queen as she 
moved about any place of meeting. 

In due time Dame Rumor carried the news of the 
American officer’s admiration for Sir Ralph’s daugh- 
ter to the White House and finally impertinent 
Rumor whispered the story in the weary ears of the 
Chief Magistrate of the Nation. 

‘‘Helen, I have great news for you! My reckless 
giant of a cavalryman, that brave and noble fellow, 
Howard, is going to marry your friend, that quiet 
little English girl. Sir Ralph Mountford’s daugher,” 
exclaimed Helen’s delighted father, carrying the 
news of what he imagined was his favorite officer’s 


140 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


happiness straightway to his daughter, whom he 
knew was a warm friend of Howard’s. 

Absolutely blind are fathers, stone-blind often, for 
the President never noticed that Helen’s face almost 
lost all color as he proceeded with the ‘‘news” he 
was relating, and that her voice trembled just a little 
as she inquired: 

“Did he tell you?” 

“No; Oh! No. Howard, in a way, is a bashful 
fellow; he’d hardly talk tome about such matters, 
but it’s quite true, they tell me; he is always at her 
side. It is a splendid match; Sir Ralph is sure to be 
a member of the next British Ministry, and occupies 
already a high position in the favor of his Imperial 
Ruler. Howard has a great future ahead of him as 
a soldier, and while I am President I shall surely see 
that his great merit receives recognition; besides, 
there can be no possible objection to Howard on 
account of lineage, for you know the Howards, like 
many of the proud old Virginian families, trace back 
their line of ancestors to Noah,” replied the Presi- 
dent, pursuing the subject with all the enthusiasm 
and interest that he felt in that that affected the wel- 
fare of the soldier he so much admired and thought 
so worthy. 

Washington weather is proverbially oppressive in 
summer, and it was a day in August when General 
Morrison communicated his “great news” to his 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


141 


daughter. It must therefore be charged to the ac- 
count of the weather, indeed it must have been 
the heat that caused Helen to become suddenly so 
pale and appear prostrated. 

At least she said so, and asked her father to get 
her a glass of water as she sank into a chair as if 
exhausted. 

Quickly returning with the water, her now anxious 
father, greatly concerned for the health of his dar- 
ling, forgetting all about the subject upon which he 
had been speaking when Helen was so suddenly 
seized by faintness, seeing no possible connection 
between what he had been saying and her indispo- 
sition, exclaimed with much anxiety: 

‘^Really, my child, I am forgetting my duty as a 
father, so over-burdened as I am with the duties of 
my office. I should never have allowed you to stay 
in Washington during the hot season; and then, too, 
you have overtaxed your strength in the endeavor to 
entertain all these people who flock to the Executive 
Mansion. You must leave at once for Saratoga or 
Bar Harbor!” 

Oh I What wonderful perspicacity has the Presi- 
dent of the Nation! What a wonderfully shrewd 
person this clever military strategist! He was so 
absolutely accurate in the diagnosis of the illness that 
caused the faintness of his daughter! 

When Helen and Howard next met, the soldier 


142 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


was alarmed at the palid and worn appearance of 
the woman that he loved, and the presence of some- 
thing akin to languor in her manner that was new to 
her. She seemed to have lost interest in what was 
doing about her, and was so pensive as to appear 
even melancholy. 

In her demeanor to the Virginian, there had come 
a certain sadness, a sisterly interest and kindness 
that, while filled with sweetness, somehow struck the 
soldier as so sad as to be almost pitiable. 

Like her father, the man who adored her, thought 
her ill, worn out by the social demands upon her 
strength and, like the President, urged her immedi- 
ate departure from Washington, and so worried and 
anxious grew Howard concerning the sudden and 
alarming symptoms that he sought an interview with 
the President and expressed to him the fear that un- 
less prompt measures were taken that a collapse in 
the splendid health of his daughter would occur. 

Edith Mountford not only was astonished at the 
remarkable change in Helen’s health, but regarded 
with perfect wonder the altered manner of her friend 
toward her. A touching tenderness had crept into 
all of Helen’s conversation when with her, and what 
seemed most remarkable to the innocent English girl 
was that Helen made Colonel Howard a constant 
theme of conversation, while formerly it had required 
an effort to get her to speak of him. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


143 


Helen now referred constantly to the high regard 
her father, the President, entertained for Colonel 
Howard and the positive certainty of his advance- 
ment in his profession to an exalted position. Spoke 
frequently of his magnificent record as a brave and 
competent officer, and of his nobility of character, 
honesty, and of how trustworthy he was. 

In speechless wonderment the Ambassador’s daugh- 
ter listened as Helen became eloquent on the subject 
of how proud and happy a woman ought to be to 
bear Howard’s name, even though the proudest blood 
of Europe flowed in her veins, and then would ex- 
patiate upon the lineage of the old families of Vir- 
ginia, how their ancestors were English cavaliers, 
often of the oldest nobility of England. 

The only conclusion possible to Edith’s inex- 
perienced understanding was, that the handsome son 
of Mars had become the accepted suitor of the 
charming young mistress of the White House, and 
that Helen’s encomiums upon the Virginian were 
but the prelude to the coming announcement of the 
engagement, consequently she innocently increased 
the false impression existing in Helen’s mind by en- 
deavoring to vie with her in expressions of admira- 
tion for the man Edith naturally supposed was soon 
to become the husband of her friend, the President’s 
daughter. 

Such were the complications that existed in the 


144 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


affairs of the victims of Dame Rumor’s careless 
prattling, when the need of rest and change for 
Helen became so apparent that General Morrison 
insisted imperatively upon his daughter accepting 
the invitation of the wife of the Secretary of War, 
General Cowan, an old friend of the President’s, and 
accompanying the Secretary’s family to Saratoga. 

Helen reluctantly obeyed her father, and had been 
absent from the capital for two weeks, when one day, 
as Howard was sitting in Chamberlain’s over a late 
breakfast, cogitating upon what excuse or reason to 
offer for his appearance at Saratoga, a messenger 
delivered to him a card from the President request- 
ing him to call at once at the Executive Mansion. 

There was so much friendly formality in the 
President’s message (which he had written himself) 
that, hastening through his breakfast, Howard 
hurried to the presence of the Commander-in- Chief 
of the Army and Navy of America. 

The cavalry commander was instantly ushered 
into the presence of his chief, where awaited him a 
warm and anxious greeting from the First Citizen of 
the Union. 

‘‘Howard, sit down, here, near me,” said the 
President, and still holding the hand of his subordi- 
nate, he said: 

“I am in trouble and I want your assist- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


145 


ance,” added the man at whose bidding ten million 
free men would spring to arms. 

“I want you to do me, personally, a great favor, 
my friend, and I feel quite confident I can call upon 
your services in that manner effectively, but I know 
that when I add to that the fact that for the honor of 
the nation I need you, there will be no refusal.” 

Howard, utterly astonished at the tone of his old 
commander, and not aware of what it might lead to, 
replied almost formally: 

‘^Mr. President, any order issued by you, sir, will 
be immediately obeyed by me.” 

^‘No! Howard, I don’t want you to look at it that 
way — I don’t want to issue an order! I know your 
situation; I know why just now foreign service 
would come at an inopportune time, but I know no 
one who can serve the Republic in its present need 
as you can,” interrupted the Chief of the Union. 

“The devil you do know my situation, and why I 
don’t want foreign service,” thought Howard, but 
said: 

“Mr. President, I am a soldier and must obey 
orders ; but if I can serve my country even without 
being ordered so to do, I shall ever be ready as a 
volunteer.” 

“This was what I expected. General,” said the 
President, giving him the higher title in anticipation, 


146 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


while pleasure and relief was apparent in his face, as 
he added gleefully: 

‘‘The lady will await the return of her crusader 
from the Holy Land, as fair ladies did of old, and 
receive him and his increased honors with laurel 
wreaths.” 

Howard, amazed, could only formulate mentally 
the sentence. 

‘‘What in the name of all that is mysterious is he 
driving at!” 

“Let me recapitulate, Howard, the concatenated 
events that have led to the unpleasant alternative of 
asking, requesting you to enter again so soon upon 
an active campaign,” continued the Chief Execu- 
tive, not observing his hearer’s looks of amazement. 

“To begin with. General,” commenced President 
Morrison, again repeating the evidence of Howard’s 
intended promotion, “while I have never attempted 
to make the army a Sunday school and have the su- 
premest contempt for canting hypocrites, still beneath 
my soldier’s coat I have tried to carry the conscience 
of a Christian man. I sincerely believe that ‘In the 
beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,’ 
and that His coming was to make men free.” 

The President paused, and then in an explanatory 
tone said: 

“I tell you this, Howard, because all my life so 
much have I despised cant, that I have assiduously 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


147 


Striven to conceal from my men and brother officers 
my deep and strong convictions concerning the duty 
of an individual Christian and also the duty of a 
Christian nation like the United States. In speaking 
thus to you, I know that you will appreciate my 
meaning, for men of your kind do not carry their 
hearts upon their coat-sleeves, and there is often hid- 
den from public inspection much that may count 
greatly to their credit hereafter.” 

Howard was completely surprised at the tone of 
the President, and at the presentation of this unex- 
pected phase of his character, for Morrison had so 
well concealed this side of his nature that no one in 
the army ever suspected its existence. As a matter 
of fact, he was not even considered a semi-religious 
man by his comrades in the service. As this was 
the second occasion for wonder on the part of the 
President’s visitor, he heard in silence what his chief 
said and merely commented mentally, “What next?” 

“I feel sure that Christ never intended to enforce 
belief in Him and His teachings by force of arms and 
violence, and that every act of warfare and cruelty 
committed since the Savior was on earth has been 
done contrary to His example and doctrine, and has 
been more injurious to the cause of Christianity than 
all other opponents combined. 

“I firmly believe that every human being is en- 


148 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


titled to perfect religious liberty no matter whether 
Christ and His teachings be accepted or not. 

‘‘That it is the duty of the two great Anglo-Saxon 
nations professing Christianity as they do, to enforce 
this universal toleration which is the very essential of 
the Christian religion.” 

“And,” continued the President, “as certain as I 
feel that the crusaders of the twelfth and thirteenth 
centuries misunderstood the spirit of the New Testa- 
ment when they carried the cross in one hand and 
the sword in the other, just so convinced am I that 
Christian nations to-day are obligated, by the faith 
they profess, to protect all mankind in its religious 
liberty, thus by their acts illustrating the greatest of 
virtues as taught by their God, ‘Charity for all.’ ” 

The President paused as if desirous of obtaining 
an expression of opinion on the subject from his 
hearer, therefore Howard rejoined: 

“Well, sir! While I never have given the matter 
much thought, you have expressed my views on the 
subject.” 

“Then, Howard,” resumed the President, “you 
can appreciate how much satisfaction it afforded me, 
almost immediately after becoming executive officer 
of the nation, to receive instructions from Congress 
commanding me to utilize the forces of the Union to 
end the suffering and persecution of the Jews in 
Palestine. That remarkable people have been per- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. Htf 

secuted into disbelief ; they have ever experienced 
cruelty and injustice from those who called them- 
selves Christians. How is it possible to expect them 
to have faith in or feel affection for that religion in the 
name of which they have been forced to suffer for 
two thousand years?” 

But now! Thank the God that made us all,” 
exclaimed the President in a triumphant tone, ^^a 
Christian nation, young as the lives of nations are 
counted, has demonstrated to the Jews of the whole 
world by an outward and visible sign that inward 
and spiritual grace of charity taught by our Savior. 

“The United States has issued its mandate to the 
universe saying religious persecution must cease, and 
to prove the sincerity of the declaration, has sent its 
army to Palestine to protect even the Jew, despised 
and persecuted in the heroic ages of crusades and 
chivalry.” 

^^The Great Republic of the new world, as the 
Champion of Freedom, has espoused the cause of 
those, who for centuries have rejected the Messiah of 
the Anglo-Saxons, and this protection is extended in 
the name of the crucified Christ.” 

' The President, rising from his chair, straightened 
to its utmost height his tall, commanding figure, as he 
raised his hand toward heaven and exclaimed: 

glory in my country’s name! America’s army 
has become the army of our Lord as it marches on 


160 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


carrying out His orders of charity and mercy for all. 
We will stop the persecution of the Jews by 
Mohammedans because we are Christians, and for 
the dear Christ sake, and thus present a more effect- 
ive argument to the unconverted Jews than twenty 
centuries of cruel oppression and hatred has pro- 
duced. ^God moves in a mysterious way His won- 
ders to perform,’ and this nation may have been 
created by Him to carry the truth to His chosen peo- 
ple of Israeli” 

As the Head of the Republic proceeded as if in- 
spired by the vision of a grander destiny for the 
nation than had ever occurred to the mind^of the 
splendid specimen of the warriors of America who 
would form the new army of the Lord, Howard, 
affected by the fervor of the President’s language, rose 
also from his chair, and with great earnevStness said: 

^^My sword belongs to my country in any quarrel 
America engages in, but a double duty is due from 
me, where my country’s battles are fought for a 
cause endeared to me by the memory of my mother’s 
teaching, I volunteer for any duty, anywhere, Mr. 
President ; command my sword without hesitation in 
such a cause.” 

Morrison again grasped the great strong hand that 
he knew so well could wield a sword most mightily 
in the cause of right, and said with much feeling : 

‘H again thank you, Howard I I will explain the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


151 


position of affairs in the East,, Great Britain, God 
bless her! has stood nobly by the United States in 
our attempts to advance the cause of Christianity, 
with its proper meaning, and civilization. With open 
arms and loving heart England, like some elder 
brother, has received the coming of the United 
States to share the battle that the grand Anglo-Saxon 
Empire has been waging for many years single- 
handed and alone. England regards our nation with 
pride and affection, seeing in the Great Republic a 
kindred country sprung from that brave old Anglo- 
Saxon stock. 

^^The agonized cries of tortured Armenian Chris- 
tians aroused Great Britain, and she has planted her 
flag at Constantinople in the names of ^Christianity 
and Civilization,’ and in those names, I tell you, 
Howard, though it is something of a state secret, 
America will aid the English in Turkey. 

“British interests are such in Egypt that when 
America’s occupancy of Palestine was contemplated, 
the United States government sought an expression 
of opinion from England on the subject, the pro- 
posed intervention of America for the protection of 
the Jews was met with a hearty endorsation; British 
ships were tendered us for the transportation of our 
troops, a military station was offered our govern- 
ment on the island of Cyprus. No suspicion was 
entertained by our brother Anglo-Saxons concerning 


152 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


the motives of this nation. Englishmen feel the 
same sentiments that fill the hearts of Americans, 
and can appreciate the strength of such sentiments 
and their freedom from selfish motives.” 

The President, drawing nearer to Howard, and 
speaking more softly, said in a confidential tone : 

“We have already in Palestine and the Mediter- 
ranean Sea an American army of thirty thousand men, 
principally artillery and infantry. I intend to in- 
crease the number quietly and slowly during the 
coming autumn and winter to one hundred thousand 
soldiers. General Gordon, who commands the Army 
of Palestine, insisted, when forming his corps for the 
expedition, that the day for using cavalry had passed 
and carried only a small force of that branch of the 
service with him ; he now finds, however, that while 
his infantry and artillery can hold the cities and 
towns of Palestine that the country is open to the in- 
roads of fanatical Bedouin horsemen and Arabs from 
the Syrian desert who sweep through the plains and 
valleys of Palestine carrying death and destruction 
with them, and make their escape again to their own 
arid region where infantry cannot follow them.” 

General Morrison paused as if to give added im- 
portance to the words and then exclaimed with great 
emphasis : 

“Howard, you are the only man, yes! I mean ab- 
solutely the only man in the army upon whom I can 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


163 


rely with confidence to stop this predatory warfare 
of the Arabs. I want you to go, taking with you 
your old bloodhounds of the Fourteenth, and such 
other force as you may think will be necessary to 
end quickly all fighting in the Holy Land. The 
pressing need of the government is dispatch; I 
know that I can trust you and shall speak plainly. 
General.” 

And the Chief Magistrate, bending over close to 
the Virginian’s ear, almost whispered: 

do not trust Russia. I expect her to strike at 
England and her Indian possessions in the East early 
next spring, first attacking the English army in 
Armenia and Constantinople. I therefore want the 
work of the American army in Palestine finished and 
it to be in a position to leave that country at a 
moment’s notice, for, God helping me* I shall en- 
deavor to secure authority from Congress to throw 
my army into T urkey, to unite with our brother 
Anglo-Saxons the British forces, and bar the onward 
march of the Russians. The Bear shall find itself 
confronted by the Lion and the Eagle, if it be in my 
power to bring it about. Beneath the folds of the two 
united kindred banners of England and the United 
States the men of one blood, one language — the 
Anglo-Saxons — can withstand the world in arms!”'' 

appreciate the compliment you pay me, Mr. 
President,” said Howard, ^4n revealing your inten- 


154 


ANGLO-SAXONS. ONWARD! 


tions with regard to the army that I shall join in the 
East. If aught can add to my zeal in the cause of 
my country and my mother’s religion, it will be the 
fact that my sword may be used to aid England, the 
old home whence came the Howards of Virginia.” 

‘‘General, I am glad you hold my opinion on this 
subject,” replied the President. 

“Now I wish you to be ready to leave with your 
command within two weeks ; the transports will be 
ready in that time and as Commodore Adams is to 
sail soon for the Mediterranean station, his ships will 
act as convoy for the transports. Go to the Secre- 
tary of War and arrange concerning the troops you 
want; he has instructions to grant whatever you 
deem necessary.” 

“Thank you, sir!” said the cavalry officer. “I 
want the Fourteenth and Seventh. Both regiments 
have served with me in similar work to that for 
which we are going to Palestine, but I want to take 
only such of the men as will volunteer and transfer 
those desirous of taking a rest to other regiments.” 

“State what you want in that particular to Secre- 
tary Cowan and he will make the necessary order ; 
and Howard, one other thing that you are to do for 
me. Knowing my intention regarding the Army of 
the East, I desire you, as soon as you consider your 
work done in Palestine, to leave your command and 
place yourself in direct communication with me per- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


165 


sonally, from some point that will be near enough to 
reach the Army in Palestine quickly. I expect 
Naples for many reasons is the point that you had 
best select,” instructed the Chief Executive. 

‘‘Very good, sir,” replied the officer. “May I 
ask what is to be my duty in Naples?” 

“Certainly, Generali” quickly answered the Presi- 
dent. 

“When the time arrives, I will cable you to get 
the American army as rapidly as possible into 
Turkey, and I know that my instructions will be 
carried out promptly without red tape and delays. 
General Gordon is a good officer, but he hesitates 
often when speed is necessary. Now, I know you 
of old. No eagle is swifter in going straight to the 
point than you are, and while Gordon will be your 
superior officer, still, if you transmit my personal 
orders to him, you will be in a position to urge 
speed.” 

“Rather a hard position. General,” said Howard, 
dropping into his old title for the President, “but I 
shall do my best. I wish that I was to have you, 
sir, again for a chief, instead of a hesitating com- 
mander. I have heard that Gordon is brave and 
skillful, but awfully slow and technical concerning 
his orders from the government, and while that may 
do when near home, a commander on foreign duty 


166 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


must use more discretion and chance the matter of 
the government’s disapproval.” 

wish that I could personally command the 
Army of the East,” said the President regretfully, 
as if the sword were more attractive to him than the 
pen that alone could be his weapon in his high office. 

“That American Army of Holy Land will take 
part in the most fateful drama that the world has 
seen since the great tragedy ended by the falling 
curtain at Waterloo.” 

“If there be such prospects before the Army of the 
East, I should like, Mr. President, to remain with it 
until its whole work is finished,” said Howard, 
aroused by the vision of participation in some glorious 
climax of warfare and fearing inopportune transfer. 

“Howard, you shall lead the American cavalry 
until the end, I promise you, for no better sample 
can be found than you, my friend, of the American 
Anglo-Saxons . ’ ’ 

The Chief of the Nation placed his hand in admir- 
ation and kindness on the stalwart shoulder of his 
subordinate as he made the statement. 

With his heart and mind filled with conflicting 
emotions, Howard, almost dazed by the sudden and 
unexpected alteration in all of his plans and expecta- 
tions, left the presence of the President and sought 
his own apartments to think over and arrange his 
programme of action. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


15T 


What was the meaning of the President’s refer- 
ence to the ‘‘present situation” and that the “lady 
will await”? 

The soldier could find no explanation to these re- 
marks of the President and finally abandoned the 
attempt. 

Should he see Helen before leaving and should he 
risk all on one cast of Fate’s dice and tell her that 
he loved her? 

Late into the night Howard pondered over this 
subject, and as he sat in the gloomy shadows think- 
ing, he became melancholy and imaginative, his 
fancy creating all kinds of impossible and unlikely 
disasters for him in the future. 

In this state of mind he at last concluded his ratio- 
cinations, by saying to himself with a despondent 
sigh: 

“Well! it may be the last time that we shall ever 
meet. I shall go to Saratoga to-m_orrow, and bid my 
love farewell, perhaps forever. What else T may do 
will depend upon circumstances. I feel that some- 
thing is going to happen to me in this campaign of a 
serious nature. I can’t shake off the feeling, so 
shall prepare for it,” and then recollection came 
creeping over him of a home in old Virginia, a fair- 
haired lad all filled with wonder as a gentle sweet- 
faced mother told the story 

“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


From out of the West came Crusaders. 



HE sense of movement, action arising from the 


rapidly speeding train partially dispelled the 
gloomy feeling of foreboding that hovered over 
Howard’s spirit, and by the time that he arrived at 
Saratoga he had almost resolved to speak the words 
to Helen that had so long dwelt in his heart. 

But when he called at the residence of Secretary 
Cowan, and in response to his card, Mrs. Cowan 
appeared with anxiety plainly written upon her face, 
all the Virginian’s hope and courage deserted him. 
Almost the first words spoken by the Secretary’s 
wife seemed to confirm the sad fancies of his 
thoughts the previous night. 

“Miss Morrison is suffering from a severe attack of 
nervous prostration; the symptoms have become so 
alarming that the President has been telegraphed to 
this afternoon. The dear girl has overtaxed her 
strength and it will require absolute rest and most 
careful attention before we can hope to have her 
health restored.” 

In a perilous career Howard had passed many 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


159 


anxious hours, but none more soul-harrowing than 
the hours succeeding his interview with Mrs. Cowan. 

He could not remain in Saratoga to await Helen’s 
recovery from the illness that made it impossible for 
him to see her, his duty called him to Camp Alger to 
prepare his command for its departure to Palestine. 

His presence in Saratoga for more than a day or 
two just at this time would be difficult to explain to 
the President, whom he necessarily must meet, if he 
remained, and Howard hated lying and deception 
even in trifling affairs. 

The worried lover knew that he could learn of the 
condition of Helen’s health continually, as long as 
he remained in America, from the newspapers, and 
that should she recover sufficiently before he sailed 
for the East, he could return to Saratoga to take fare- 
well of the lady of his heart. Therefore, while the 
pendulum of his inclinations still vibrated between 
his love and sense of duty as a soldier, he resolved 
to return to Washington and prepare for his eastern 
journey and to get his men in readiness. 

With the feeling that inexorable fate was unpro- 
pitious toward his suit for the hand and heart of the 
adorable Helen, and gravely concerned upon the sub- 
ject of his darling’s illness, Howard, in moody silence, 
sat thinking sorrowfully of the destiny that was to 
carry him so soon across the ocean, through the long 
and tiresome journey back to the Capital. 


160 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


The men of the Fourteenth U. S. Cavalry listened 
in silence to the reading of the order for their trans- 
fer and early departure to the Army of the East. 
When the adjutant had finished reading and had 
saluted, Colonel Howard, splendid in the regalia of 
the handsome uniform of the American cavalry 
officers, and looking every inch the dashing knight of 
the saber that he was, addressed the men sitting 
motionless at ‘‘Attention.” 

“The President, desiring the presence of the 
bravest and best force of cavalry of our army in 
Palestine, to repel and punish the predatory Arab 
tribes, who incessantly harass our infantry forces 
now stationed in that land, the commander-in-chief, 
the President, has paid the men of the Fourteenth 
and their officers the compliment of selecting them 
for the duty. As I want none but willing men with 
me on this service, I have arranged for the transfer 
to other regiments of all those men of the ‘Fighting 
Fourteenth’ who do not wish to follow their old 
commander; therefore, those who wish to remain at 
home will now move forward two paces that their 
names may be registered for transfer.” 

Howard was not alone a brilliant soldier, he also 
possessed that mysterious magnetic power that enables 
some men to control as if by magic the impulses of 
others with whom they come in contact. 

Colonel Howard’s address to the troopers of the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE.’ 


161 


regiment that he had led in so many hard-fought 
fields, could not have been better expressed for the 
purpose intended, had it resulted from hours of 
cogitation and preparation. 

When their commander ceased speaking, for 
several minutes he waited, but not a single horseman 
moved forward. Pleased and somewhat surprised 
at the unanimous willingness of his old comrades to 
so soon again share with him the perils and hard- 
ships of another campaign, the Colonel again spoke: 

“I thank you, men of the Fourteenth, in the name 
of the nation and the President. I might have 
expected that none of my old soldiers would desert 
me.” 

Then came from the lines of the horsemen which 
until then had stood as motionless and silent as 
mounted stone statues, that peculiar American cheer, 
that seems a combination of the loud Hurrah of 
Grant’s Northern soldiers in the last century, and 
the famous ‘‘Rebel yell” that Lee’s men were v/ont 
to utter as they charged. 

Time had moulded together the cheers of the Blue 
and Gray soldiers of the 1860’s until the cry used by 
the American army in A. D. 19 — was created, a 
cheer unlike any other under heaven in its power to 
stimulate men to acts of courage and daring, for it 
seemed to recall as it was uttered, that mighty host 
of dead heroes who had caused a world to wonder at 


162 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


their deeds of heroism, making for all time the name 
American, synonymous with patriotism and courage. 

The anxious Virginian read the daily bulletins 
published concerning, the health of the President’s 
daughter, during the weeks that he was hurrying 
forward the preparations for the leaving of the 
troops under his command. 

“Slightly better this morning, must have absolute 
rest and quiet,” and paragraphs of like nature kept 
the troubled lover informed of his loved one’s con- 
dition. The President, when at last he felt at liberty 
to do so, by the improvement in the health of his 
daughter, returned to his post of duty in Washing- 
ton, and said to Howard, who immediately called to 
inquire concerning Helen. 

“While Helen is much better, she must remain en- 
tirely free from any kind of excitement. She seems 
particularly anxious to have Miss Mountford with 
her ; she told me that her society was so peaceful and 
restful to her that she thought she would be greatly 
benefited by a visit from the little English lady. Sir 
Ralph and his family are at Newport, as, of course, 
you know, but I have written to Sir Ralph begging 
him to allow Miss Edith to pay Helen a visit at 
Saratoga.” 

Then the President’s mind, turning from that that 
was of a personal character to the grave responsi- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


163 


bility of his position as chief of a great nation, he 
said to his visitor: 

‘‘I suppose, Howard, that you have everything in 
readiness to embark next week; the transports are 
now assembled, I am informed, at Newport News, 
and Commodore Adams will be read}^ to start in a 
few days for the Mediterranean station.” 

‘‘Yes, sir! My command is ready,” replied the 
soldier with the promptness that results from long 
military discipline. After receiving the congratula- 
tions and thanks of the commander- in-chief, Howard 
hurried away to his apartments determined to don citi- 
zen’s attire and catch the first train for Newport, that 
he might leave with the sympathetic English maiden 
that adieu for his fair one, that he could not say to 
her in person. 

When Colonel Howard arrived at Sir Ralph 
Mountford’s Newport residence, he found Edith busy 
with preparations for leaving for Saratoga, and highly 
delighted that her friend Helen should have re- 
quested her attendance above others who were 
anxious to be of service to the President’s daughter. 

The cavalryman attempted manfully to control his 
emotions, and to leave a calm and dignified message 
of farewell for his heart’s idol, but yielding to that 
subtle influence that emanates ever from a sympa- 
thetic listener, also moved by the supreme desperation 
of the situation, finally the barrier broke down that 


164 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


held back his supposed secret, and he poured forth 
to his gentle confidant all the story of his love for 
Helen. 

‘^Why did you not tell all this long ago to Helen?” 
asked his hearer, as she heard the heart secret of 
the disconsolate hero. 

‘‘Because I feared to do so,” replied the great soldier 
beside her, and added, “I am so unworthy of her!” 

“That one of America’s bravest soldiers should 
fear to tell the story of his love to the lady of his 
heart, is most surprising, and, my friend, I think a 
pity, because the lady in this instance might have 
listened,” replied Sir Ralph’s daughter. 

“If I thought it, I would desert my colors and 
refuse to go to Palestine with my troops,” said the 
now excited Virginian, his hopes suddenly submerg- 
ing every other consideration. 

“Then I am sure she would never listen. Re- 
member, she is a soldier’s daughter and an Anglo- 
Saxon,” answered reprovingly the lady. “Go 
where your duty calls you and when you return tell 
your story to Helen in the way that you have told it 
to me. Take my word as a woman for it, she will 
be waiting, and will listen, but remember, I have no 
reason further than a woman’s intuition for saying 
so ; there is no breach of confidence in what I have 
told you.” 

Howard, to whom the words of hope and encour- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


agement were as welcome as the heaven-sent manna 
to the perishing wanderers from Egypt, exclaimed 
in a transport of delight: 

‘‘My best of friends tell me just what to do, and I 
promise absolute obedience.” 

“Then give me permission if I deem it wise and 
the occasion coming, to reveal what you have told 
me to Helen,” said the gentle guide of the giant 
warrior. 

“Whatever you do will, I know, be best and 
wisest; use your own discretion, but don’t lose me 
my love’s respect and friendship,” replied the sol- 
dier, the hope of happiness filling his bosom with 
new-found gladness. 

Surely the early autumn sunshine had grown 
brighter since he entered the residence of the British 
Ambassador, thought the Virginian as with springing 
step and spirit all elated he walked toward the train 
that would take him to Washington. 

Dance on, ye glittering waves! Bear safely forth 
grand old Atlantic, the New Crusaders of the 
Western World! Wave farewell, ye frost-painted 
trees of America to the Knights of the Twentieth 
Century! Freedom’s soil bid Godspeed to thy 
sons who carry to suffering Israel thy doctrine of 
Liberty, in the name of Him v/ho died to set men 
free! 

As the hungry old war-dogs of the Fourteenth 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


gathered to eat and grumble (as veterans are wont to 
do from habit) over their rations and meanwhile to dis- 
cuss every kind of military subject from the strategic 
moves of an army to a bridle buckle, and to wonder 
when this ! (well, no matter, what kind) voy- 

age would be ended, and what kind of a country 
Palestine was for ‘^foraging” en fassant they talked 
of their officers. 

‘‘Big George is plum crazy! The Colonel is as 
chipper as if going to a fandango! Smiling as a 
daisy! Clean wild because there’ll be a (blessed?) 
lot of cutting and slashing!” 

Such remarks came wafted up the hatchway from 
where the men were crowding around the board for 
their meals, during the passage of the transports 
across the ocean. 

But the gaunt, dry and sinewy warriors of the 
Fourteenth, wise as they were in warfare, were mis- 
taken in the conclusion that their leader looked with 
joy upon the prospect of the coming slaughter. 
Another song, caroled by the bird of Hope, in his 
heart, was singing. Love, ever with the brave the 
tenderest feeling, was filling all the being of the 
Commander of the Western Crusaders. 

At last in the East rises on the vision, grown weary 
of watery expanses, those twin time-famous pillars 
that like guardian sentinels bar the gateway to the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


167 


old home of the Greeks and Romans, the Mediter- 
ranean. At Gibraltar the U. S. fleet cast its anchors. 

During the day following the dinner on the Rus- 
sian flagship and the adventure of Colonel Howard 
and the Grand Duke Vladimar in Gibraltar, when 
the American soldier had prevented the execution of 
the Anarchists’ plot against the life of Russia’s 
royal son, the American fleet finished coaling and 
prepared to continue its eastward voyage. 

Early in the morning, after the impotent attempt 
of the Anarchist to assassinate the Grand Duke 
Vladimar, His Highness, accompanied by Prince 
Gourkoff and the Russian Admiral, visited the U. S. 
flagship. The McKinley, to express to the American 
officer their gratitude for the services rendered to the 
Russian Crown by him in preserving the life of one 
of the royal family occupying a position so near the 
throne. 

Howard, who was one of the most modest of men 
concerning his personal achievements, was considera- 
bly bored by the profuse demonstrations of thankful- 
ness and the superlative flattery contained in all of the 
remarks of his visitors. He was far better pleased 
with the simple speech of the Grand Duke as he 
presented the American with a superbly jeweled 
saber, saying : 

‘‘Colonel Howard, I know that I could not place 
this weapon in any hand that could wield it better. 


168 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


nor would use it with greater honor to its bearer and 
his country.” 

And then the royal visitor added, as he handed to 
the American officer a miniature of himself : 

‘^My friend, keep this as a token of friendship 
between us two, no matter what may be the enmity 
that time may engender between our nations.” 

Amid lusty cheers from the British and Russian 
men-of-war and the playing of America’s national 
airs, the United States squadron steamed out to sea 
and resumed its journey toward Palestine. 

The ancient city of Tyre had been selected by the 
U. S. government as the place of disembarkation for 
the cavalry regiments sent to re-enforce General 
Gordon’s army of the East. 

This selection had been made for the double reason 
that the landing of the horses of the command was 
hardly practicable elsewhere near the scene of con- 
templated operations, and also to enable Howard’s 
troops to sweep away the Mahdi’s wild horsemen 
who hovered about the eastern slope of the Lebanon 
Mountains, and who when pursued took refuge in 
the Syrian desert beyond Mount Hermon and the 
Jordan river. 

Many years prior to the expedition to Palestine, it 
had been ascertained that there was a larger number 
of Roman Catholics among the rank and file of the 
Fourteenth U. S. Cavalry, than members of any 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


169 


other denomination of the Christian religion, hence 
a priest of the Catholic Church had been appointed 
chaplain of the regiment. 

Father O’Neil had served with ‘‘my boys” (as he 
called the men of the “Fighting Fourteenth”) in 
every clime and through every campaign for twenty 
years, and by his zeal and originality had endeared 
himself alike to the Protestants and the Catholics 
of the regiment. 

The chaplain, though an American by birth, in- 
herited with his Celtic blood a great many of the 
characteristics that have made the sons of Erin 
famous wherever chance has cast them. 

Perfectly fearless, he insisted upon going into 
battle clothed in the canonicals of his holy profes- 
sion, and when Colonel Howard remonstrated, say- 
ing: “Father O’Neil, it is not your duty to make of 
yourself a target by dressing in a manner bound to 
attract needless attention,” the reverend soldier had 
said with the naive wit of the Hibernian that still 
clung to the Irish- American : 

“Sure, Colonel, you wear your uniform because 
you are not ashamed nor afraid to do so, and I do 
the same thing for like reasons.” 

And he did. 

The Fourteenth’s chaplain was a fine type of the 
fighting Irish priest ; he knew the nature of his flock, 
and had acquired a tremendous influence over the 


170 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


rough old campaigners, by adopting a style and 
manner suitable to his surroundings. Full of natural 
mirth and humor, he was the merriest story-teller in 
the regiment. Father O’Neil would wind up an 
evening spent around the camp-fire, where smoking 
his short dudeen and making jokes with “the boys,” 
he had been the center of attraction, by saying: 

“Faith now, you bloodthirsty rascals! You’ve 
had your fun with me to-night, and I shall expect 
every mother son of you at mass in the morning, or 
I’ll never tell you another story.” 

To be sure, mass was always well attended. Men 
of every denomination attended the service because 
“The father is such a good fellow and it pleases him.” 

On the battle-field, bullets might whistle all around 
him, but the priest’s voice never for an instant 
quivered, nor would he hasten one moment in his 
holy office. In trouble, sickness, or death he stood 
by the men of the regiment with a devotion that 
could not fail to win the respect and affection of 
every member of the corps. 

Father O’Neil’s Irish wit had long rendered him 
famous. Whenever a banquet was tendered to the 
officers of the regiment or any party of pleasure 
arranged, the invitation was sure to wind up some- 
thing in this fashion, “Don’t forget to bring your 
jolly parson.” 

It was while the Fourteenth was in China that the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


171 


Father so effectually turned a quizzing Austrian 
officer into the butt of the jesting for the evening. 

At an entertainment given by the officers of a 
British regiment, to which the officers of the Four- 
teenth U. S. Cavalry were invited, there were pres- 
ent several Austrians. One of the number began 
twitting the Americans, and especially the Irish- 
Americans, on account of their friendship for the 
English, and made frequent reference to the bitter 
quarrels of other centuries between Americans and 
Englishmen, and was especially sarcastic when re- 
ferring to the amicable relations that now existed 
between Irishmen and Englishmen. 

In the veins of many of America’s bravest soldiers 
and most highly honored citizens flow Celtic blood, 
so that it was no surprise to Father O’Neil to see 
several faces among the assembled American officers 
flush, and an ugly, wrathful, dangerous light come 
into the eyes of men whom the good priest knew 
were not always amiable nor very gentle when 
aroused to anger. 

With the quickness of wit and ready resourceful- 
ness of the children of Erin, the chaplain, with a 
merry twinkle in his blue eyes, exclaimed: 

“Sure, Captain Von Gerechten, you’ve never been 
in New York. There’s a story the boys on the 
Bowery tell; it’s as old as sorrow, but it fits your 
case, and here it is; 


172 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


‘‘A bad Bowery boy who had never been to church 
or heard much about the Bible, dropped into mass 
one morning, and seeing the cross with the Savior 
nailed on it, asked an old woman who it was, and 
who nailed him to the cross. The old woman, sur- 
prised at his ignorance, exclaimed: ‘Faith, an’ ye’s 
know little. It’s the Holy Jesus, man, and, bedad, 
the Jews did it!’ 

‘‘The bad Bowery boy, filled with indignation, 
runs out of the church, and seeing a poor old Jewish 
pedlar, promptly knocks him into the gutter. 
Amazed the old Hebrew, sitting up in the mud, with 
rueful countenance and in amazement cries, ‘Vat for 
do you do that?’ ‘You killed Jesus, you Jew!’ yells 
the Bowery boy. ‘Dat vas more than nineteen 
hundred years ago,’ groaned the son of Abraham. 

‘I don’t give a (well, no matter,) I didn’t know 

it until this morning,’ shouts the Bowery boy.” 

Amid the laughter of the British and American 
officers and the confusion of the Austrian, the priest 
added, addressing Von Gerechten: 

“You see. Captain, you may have only recently 
heard of our fights with our English cousins, but it’s 
ancient history with us, and we have long since 
made a mummy of the memory and buried it. By 
the way. Captain, dear, you Austrians are very loving 
now with the Prussians; have you forgotten Sadowa? 
And I see, my friend, the Russian major laughing a 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


175 


good deal, Sure! and your memory is no better! for 
you cuddle up closely these days to the Tricolor, but 
it was not half so welcome once at Moscow.” 

With Pat’s proverbial propensity for hitting every 
head he sees, the merry priest never let up until he 
had given a good-natured shot to every nation rep- 
resented around the board ; then when the mirth had 
subsided, he said deliberately and seriously: 

‘‘We Americans of Irish blood have long since 
ceased to be influenced by incendiary arguments of 
pettifogging demagogues, who always attempt to play 
upon our sentimental love for the ‘old sod.’ We are 
Americans first, last and all the time. What is best 
for the honor and glory of our native land we 
earnestly desire, and bring no bitter memories of 
ancient wrongs done centuries ago to bar the onward 
progress of the Great Republic that opened her 
generous arms to receive our ancestors. 

“Irishmen have written with their blood on every 
page of America’s history their loyalty, patriotism, 
and devotion to the nation, and it is a “far cry” for 
those who hate England and the United States to 
endeavor to stir up differences by appealing to the 
impetuosity and vindictiveness of the Celtic temper. 
The Republic’s greater glory and noblest destiny is to 
be found in uniting with Great Britain, making a 
bulwark of the two strong Anglo-Saxon nations for 
Christianity, Civilization, and Peace on Earth. 


174 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


“We Irish- Americans are grateful children of 
America, and we will not be led to stab alma mater 
in the back by the use of our rights as citizens of 
the United States, at the suggestion of those who 
would stop the growing grandeur of the American 
Republic.” 

Father O’Neil was an especial favorite of the 
Colonel of the Fourteenth. The Chaplain could 
always manage somehow to obtain Howard’s assent 
to almost any project suggested by the good priest 
making for the moral and spiritual improvement of 
the corps, when, therefore, a day or so before the 
transports reached their destination. Father O’Neil 
made his salute to the commanding officer and 
begged permission : 

“To lay before the Colonel a little scheme that I 
have concocted for ‘my boys.’ ” 

Howard, with a laugh at the Chaplain’s assumed 
humility of tone, replied: 

“Sit down. Father, and tell me what it is now that 
you have on hand? You are as good as a dozen 
sergeant-majors in keeping the men in order, so let 
me hear your latest.” 

“Well, you see. Colonel, as this is a new kind of 
a campaign for the corps, in a land made sacred by 
the presence of the Master while on earth, I thought 
that ‘the boys’ might be more impressed by some 
badge or sign to remind them of the Holy One, and 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


175 


to keep the poor thoughtless fellows from swearing 
and sinning, so I cut out of white cloth a lot of 
crosses and wanted permission for ^the boys’ to sew 
them on the left breast (right over their hearts) of 
their uniform coats,” answered the Chaplain, who 
was ever anxiously seeking means to impress the 
rough, brave-hearted fellows for whose spiritual wel- 
fare he felt responsible. 

have no objection. Father, go ahead,” said the 
Colonel without a moment’s hesitation: 

‘‘Thank you, sir, for the permission ; but there is a 
trifle of a matter that I want to get you to do for me, 
Colonel, dear,” insinuatingly suggested the zealous 
priest. 

“I thought there was something else. Chaplain; 
like a woman you always put your most important 
communications in the P. S.’s of your requests,” an- 
swered Howard good-naturedly. 

“Now, Colonel, you know that ‘the boys’ are 
nothing but a lot of overgrown children and they 
would think the officers might make game of their 
badges, unless the officers would first adopt the cross 
as a badge like the Old Crusaders and set the foolish 
fellows the example,” explained the Chaplain 
naively. 

“Well! My good man, that is a question to be 
settled by the officers themselves; I don’t suppose 
you expect me to issue an order on such a subject. 


176 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


See them yourself and I am sure they will give you 
a courteous hearing,” rejoined the commander. 

‘‘You can do more for me than by making an 
order, my brave commander,” said the Chaplain, 
and in his most persuasive voice added: 

“Officers and men of the Fourteenth will quickly 
follow their leader’s example, and the devil himself 
would not dare laugh at an act of Colonel George 
Howard.” 

“Well, by all that’s impertinent! You want me 
to wear a brand and appear ridiculous, as if aping 
the Old Crusaders!” exclaimed the surprised 
Virginian. 

“Sure, it’s the brand the Savior carried to Calvary 
for us. Colonel, and you are not ashamed of Him, 
are you?” replied Father O’Neil solemnly. 

It required much persistent argument on the part 
of the priest to induce Howard to assume an emblem 
that had a somewhat theatrical appearance under the 
circumstances, but deep down in the bold heart of 
the soldier there existed a strong religious fervor, and 
the conviction that it is the duty of every Christian 
to endeavor to influence his neighbor to do good, by 
example, even at the sacrifice of personal comfort to 
himself. 

So finally the good Chaplain triumphed over the 
objections offered by his doughty commander. 

When the officers and men of the Fourteenth and 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


177 


Seventh regiments saw that their chief had adopted 
the priest’s suggestion, every man was in a hurry to 
follow his example. Soon on every brave bosom 
gleamed the symbol of the Christian religion, and 
the white crosses were not small and insignificant, 
but as Father O’Neil expressed it: 

^ ‘Let’s have them fit the hearts that beat beneath 
them.” 

When the two regiments of American cavalry 
were formed after their disembarkation at historic 
Tyre, and prepared for the march into Palestine, a 
sight was presented that seemed to borrow in- 
congruous elements from the long past and the 
present. 

On the sands of this shore touched the returning 
ships of the adventurous Phoenicians bearing the tin 
ore of the barbaric island of the Britains. 

Here camped the mighty Assyrian army of 
Tiglath-Pileser, to demand submission and contri- 
bution of Tyre, the then greatest maritime city of the 
world. How the name Assyrian brings to memory 
the war chariot and the matted curling beard of its 
dark Semitic occupant, armed with the javelin, the 
bow and arrow. 

To this spot, where now is arrayed the soldiers of 
the then unknown world, came the Ambassadors of 
Cambyses, the ill-fated Persian monarch, son of the 


178 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


great Cyrus, seeking the aid of the leading seaport 
city, Tyre, against the Egyptian Pharaoh. 

The phantom Grecian phalanx of the Great Alex- 
ander rises before the eyes of the platoons of Yankee 
horsemen as they gaze upon the place where Greek 
persistency and valor conquered the obstacles placed 
by favoring nature around ancient Tyre. 

Here, too, marshaled the mail-clad knights of 
Western Europe; waving pennons, glittering armor, 
bending spears and mighty war-maces, each proud 
form bearing on its shoulder the cross of the Cru- 
sader, the sign of Him who was all mercy and 
charity, the self-sacrificing Savior. 

That giant commander, sitting on his mighty war 
charger like a centaur, is it the ghost of England’s 
Richard Coeur de Lion, loved hero of romance, son 
of Norman king and Saxon princess carrying in his 
body the blood containing the germs of that amalga- 
mation that completed created a race, the Anglo- 
Saxon, that has caused a world to tremble? 

Gone ! Vanished are all the day-dreams and 
visions of dim and misty past ages! Quickly is* 
each Yankee soldier aroused from his dreaming for 
the stirring strains of music come bursting through 
the barrier holding back the present — in an instant 
the past is washed away, obliterated, fled from the 
mind of every American — the band is playing the 
‘‘Star-Spangled Banner.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


179 


‘‘Forward!” blows the bugle, and the line of 
American troopers moves onward, along that coast 
where marched the all-conquering Roman legions. 

At the head of the corps rides the leader. 

Could the spirits of past commanders who led 
grand armies along these renowned shores speak, 
well they might utter words like : 

“Welcome, thou mighty warrior! The West 
hath sent a fitting successor to us, who led men in 
long since past ages along this pathway to glory.” 

As the long line is extended, the plainness, sim- 
plicity of the troopers’ trappings becomes apparent. 

Gone as companion of the past are all the para- 
phernalia that made the men of war gorgeous and 
spectacular in the panoply of the soldier. 

Now ride the Western warriors, their brave 
breasts covered with no shining armor, only with the 
simple blue blouses of Uncle Sam’s army. No glis- 
tening helmets with waving plumage, only old 
slouch hats of rusty felt. No dancing pennons held 
high by long lances do they carry, only the short, 
dull-hued, deadly carbine. No great battle axes are 
seen at their saddles, by their sides changle light 
sabers. 

The modern knights have no shields gay with 
armorial bearings, courage and their own strong 
arms alone protect them. 

The Modern Crusaders carry no hermit-blessed 


180 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


bones, believing that the holy relics can by miracle 
overcome the Unbeliever. 

No great scarlet crosses flaunt with bloody meaning 
from the shoulders of the Western soldiers, as once 
was seen when fur-trimmed mantles flutter in the 
desert breezes from Knights Templar’s shoulders. 

On each manly bosom of their faded blue jackets the 
only sign the New Crusaders carry is the home-made, 
unostentatious white cloth crosses, worn by many 
purely to please the good priest, their brave chaplain. 

Does the world regret the time-wrought changes? 
Has not the coming of the New Crusaders a fuller^ 
deeper meaning than the outpouring of chivalric 
knights of past centuries seeking adventures in 
Holy Land? Has not time given mankind a truer 
understanding of the spirit that pervades the teach- 
ing that the gentle, loving Master left us? 

These rough riders, full of many human weak- 
nesses, committing countless errors, may be fuller of 
the sense of the Holy Scriptures than the most 
learned of the early Christian sages, and in protect- 
ing those who ‘‘Rejected” even the Master, may be 
more truly doing His holy bidding and more surely 
winning reward eternal than the early martyrs who 
suffered in the name of the Man of Sorrows. 

Howard’s horsemen moved eastward across the 
mountains of Lebanon, sweeping the eastern slope 
of Mount Hermon clear of the wandering marauders. 


^ ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


181 


of the mad Mahdi’s followers, driving far into the 
Syrian desert the fanatical tribes of Arabs ; bringing 
into Asia the method of irregular warfare learned by 
the American cavalry on the plains and foothills of 
Arizona and the boundless pampas of South America. 

General Gordon, with whom Howard had placed 
himself in communication upon his arrival in Asia, 
requested the commander of the cavalry to establish 
his base of operations somewhere south of the Sea of 
Galilee, that he might be in a position to cross the 
Jordan and move against the desert Bedouins or 
strike at hill tribes north and east of Jerusalem, the 
headquarters of the American Army of Palestine. 

Howard, in compliance with General Gordon’s 
order, marched slowly, passed along the eastern 
shores of the Sea of Galilee, crossed the Jordan, and 
entered the plain of Esdraelon, that great battle-field 
of Jewish history. 

The sun, sinking in the western sky, sent its expir- 
ing beams of light along the dark scrub-covered 
sides of Mount Tabor, bringing into view the ruins 
of the Saracenic fortresses that crumble on the 
mountain’s heights, as the Cavalry of the New 
World moved down into the historical valley. 

Perhaps it was the last bright ray of light falling 
with greater radiance on Mount Tabor’s crest, 
where tradition holds ‘^The Man” was transfigured. 

Perhaps it was the sinking of the sun in the far 


182 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


West, where was home and country, or perhaps it 
was a combination of emotions that caused the line 
of moving horsemen to halt, for no command was 
given. 

The leader of horsemen, impressed by the scene 
and moved by the recollection of what this mountain 
and this plain had witnessed, uncovered his head 
and stood still and silent. 

One by one the troopers follow their tall chief’s 
example, until bare-headed and motionless, stand the 
two thousand rough, reckless soldiers of the Repub- 
lic as if made mute and still by some holy spirit that 
on this spot watches. 

At last a voice breaks the silence and relieves the 
tension of the feelings. 

A full strong voice of sweetest tenor bursts into 
song; it is sacred music, for it is of home and 
country. Nothing more holy dared be uttered, 
though every heart might be overflowing with far 
more religious feeling, these men are cant-hating 
Yankees. 

As the Cavalry again move, without order given, 
onward, the whole line joins in the singing, even 
the deep voice of the commander is heard as the two 
thousand voices roll along dark Tabor’s side and 
down the ancient Valley of Jezreel, arousing this 
hallowed region with the music of 

“My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


“I Love an American Soldier.” 

JNDIAN Summer, most beautiful of seasons in 
America, had announced its coming by dying 
forest leaves and foliage with many-hued colors, 
sprinkling the trees with its purple, red, and golden 
shower of frost kisses, bringing also with its coming 
the cool and invigorating breezes of autumn, and the 
mellow, health-restoring sunshine of that season. 

The hills around Saratoga were resplendent in 
brilliant apparel one bright day early in October, 
when Helen Morrison, improved in health and 
stronger, reclining on a couch near the open win- 
dow, inhaling the pure, health-giving air of that de- 
lightful region, asked her kind friend, her gentle 
companion, sweet little Edith Mountford, to assist 
her in assorting the many cards, notes and letters 
that had been left for Helen during her illness. 

As the two young women sat reading and com- 
menting on the various cards, callers and communi- 
cations, suddenly Helen became silent, holding one 
card in her hand, and musingly gazing out of the 
window over the beautiful landscape picture before 


184 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


her, then turning to her companion with a shade of 
sadness in the smile with which she said it, remarked : 

‘‘Edith, here is the card of a caller who came, I 
suspect, attracted more by the nurse than patient,” 
and as Edith glanced up inquiringly, Helen said: 

“It is Colonel Howard’s card. When did you last 
see our friend, and how is he?” 

Edith, not noticing the first remark made by 
Helen, deeming it only a jest, answered glad that 
an avenue was thus opened for conversation upon a 
subject so interesting. 

“Oh! That must have been left by Colonel 
Howard prior to his sailing for Palestine in com- 
mand of the American cavalry. He bade me present 
his adieu to you for him.” 

“Has he left the country?” cried the astonished 
Helen. “Why, when are you to be married? On 
that subject, my dear girl, you are not a bit confid- 
ing,” and Helen’s hand trembling, dropped the card 
it was holding. 

“Married!” exclaimed Edith in a tone louder than 
perhaps she had ever before uttered, with a look of 
almost horror coming into her startled eyes. 

“Married to whom?” she said in excited accent. 

“Why, to our gallant American soldier. Colonel 
Howard, of course,” replied Helen. 

For a few moments Edith regarded her friend 
with alarm, suspecting that her late illness had pro- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


185 


duced some mental disorder, but seeing nothing in the 
bright clear eyes gazing at her, to confirm her 
suspicion, the truth dawned upon her mind, in great 
agitation, with tears welling up in her kind eyes she 
cried: 

Helen Morrison, my friend. How could you? 
How could you? Colonel Howard adores you! 
He worships you as a saint, Helen I Oh I My friend, 
how blind, and how you have been mistaken!” 

Like the ruby beams of morning sun chasing 
each other across a field of purest snow when first the 
day gilds the mountain-tops, did waves of color play 
over the pale face of the President’s daughter, while 
she listened all enraptured to the story of the love 
of her hero for her; in each tender word of manly 
adoration repeated in the sweet voice of the English 
maiden, Helen drank in great draughts of health 
restorative. 

The tone of voice of a well-bred English woman 
is one of the sweetest sounds on earth at any time, 
but as Edith poured forth the story of the silent 
worship of the Virginian, Helen thought it heavenly 
music, as she sat speechless, happy, all anxiously 
attentive, and listened. 

Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Blaine, Conkling, all 
were great advocates, but never before was heard in 
America eloquence so sweetly tender as when the 
melodious voice of Edith Mountford pleaded the 


186 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


causes of the absent lover, and repeated the ‘^Old, 
Old Story,” ever new and ever welcome, of a man’s 
love for the woman of his heart. 

‘‘The bracing autumn weather has caused a vast 
improvement in the health of the President’s daugh- 
ter, our Helen,” and like paragraphs in the daily 
newspapers gave the welcome news to the solicitous 
public that Helen Morrison was better, in fact, her 
recovery was so rapid as to be phenomenal, all, no 
doubt, occasioned by “the bracing autumn weather,” 
for the papers said so, and they are never mistaken. 

Perhaps a quiet English girl thought somewhat 
differently, but, no matter, since, in fact, the young 
mistress of the White House was indeed better, 
almost well again, and soon would resume her duties 
as hostess at the Executive Mansion. 

How fortunate and timely is the restoration to 
health of the First Lady of the Land, for the Rus- 
sians are coming, His Highness the Grand Duke 
Vladimar, representative of Russian royalty. 

The “swell set” is greatly excited; preparations 
are making in every social center to give the illustri- 
ous visitor a fitting reception ; what a God-send is the 
expected visit to all dealers in feminine apparel. 

The expenditure of cash and energy by the metro- 
politan journals is really alarming. Fast yachts are 
dispatched more than a thousand miles out to sea to 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


187 


meet the Russian fleet, (and possibly to interview the 
Grand Duke’s barber). 

Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago all 
vie with each other in presenting their respective 
claims for the honor of entertaining the royal visitor; 
the ‘‘Daughters of Kings” and the “Descendants 
of Methuselah,” the “Knights of Man Embryonic,” 
and the “Children of Protoplasm” all set up a fear- 
ful howling for precedence. 

It is not safe to judge of number in America by 
the noise-making, a few frogs croak with startling 
vigor. 

“How well you look, my child,” cried the de- 
lighted Chief of the Nation as he lifted Helen out of 
the carriage at the door of the White House. 

“It is a perfect miracle, the effect that cool 
weather has produced,” said the happy father, 

“I am so delighted, for now you can relieve me of 
all the bother of a lot of social functions for the en- 
tertainment of these Russian visitors to our country.” 

Helen, whose step had regained its old elasticity, 
fairly danced through the long halls of the Executive 
Mansion, her face aglow with the roses of restored 
health, eyes as bright and sparkling as liquid metal, 
answered, gaily with beaming glances: 

“All right. General, I report once more for duty ! 
I am all ready for the Russians I But upon my 
word, father, I don’t believe that I can receive the* 


188 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Grand Duke with the gravity due to his exalted 
station, after reading the account of how Colonel 
Howard tossed him up like an infant and jumped 
with him into the sea at Gibraltar, to save the royal 
life of His Highness. It is so awfully ridiculous, you 
know, to think of him dangling in the air like some 
rag-doll baby. I can imagine the picture, and I can 
almost see our sturdy soldier grasp this sprig of the 
house of Russia. It’s supremely funny to me.” 

^‘Well, Helen, don’t laugh at America’s guest 
anyhow. It seems to me your illness has done you 
good in one way. You absolutely are all smiles and 
laughter. Remember, Howard is a perfect Hercules, 
and could pick me up, as heavy as I am, and 
make me appear small and insignificant. By the 
way, Helen, that was all nonsense about Howard 
and Miss Mountford. Sir Ralph told me himself the 
other day that Miss Edith would marry young Lord 
Taunton, the British Attache, this winter, so Dame 
Rumor, as usual, was in error,” said the President. 

‘‘Edith told me all about it at Saratoga. There 
will be one less international marriage. Colonel 
Howard may have to find a wife among the Ameri- 
can women,” replied Helen. 

“Howard deserves a good wife and I hope that 
he will find one,” carelessly remarked Helen’s 
father. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


‘‘I hope that the woman will be as good and true 
as he is,” said Helen. 

‘‘Grandeur,” “Wealth,” “Beauty” — Oh! New 
York, you are thinking of — the second city of the 
world has given a fitting reception to His Royal 
Highness. Dream of all that is supremely elegant and 
beautiful, and then think that your dream was but 
half over when aroused from your slumber — such 
was the reception given to the Grand Duke Vladimar 
in the Metropolis of America. 

Notwithstanding all of New York’s unrivaled 
attractions, still the Russian royal party gravitated 
toward the Capital of the Nation. 

Philadelphia and Baltimore, each blessed with a 
brief visit, bade adieu in sadness to the early depart- 
ing visitors. 

“Veni! Vidi I ” — hold the last word. Prince 
Gourkoff, you may never write — “Vici!” 

The Executive Mansion is a scene of splendor. 
Fair women and brave men in the national residence 
await the coming of Russia’s royal son. 

In the galaxy of beauty where all are fair, the 
First Lady, nature has made the fairest lady, in the 
land. No guide is necessary to indicate the “Queen 
Rose” in the rosebud garden gathered to welcome 
the royal visitor. 

Once in England’s court, Denmark’s daughter 
might enter unattended, unknown, any royal recep- 


190 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


tion-room, and by the charm of an indescribable 
something, all present at once would know the lady 
as the wife of England’s chief est gentleman. 

The son of the successor of the race of Rurik is 
presented to the “American Nobody.” 

Strange ! but somehow when in her presence she 
seems “Somebody,” all preconceived opinions of 
the “Ambitious American Woman” vanish, like a 
misty frost of dreamland made on the mental glass, 
before the sun of reality. 

“This is a superior woman,” silently comments 
the Russian as he converses with the woman of the 
plebeian republic. 

“Not the usual sort, by any means.” “Quite 
different from what I was led to expect.” “Really a 
new sensation, I feel myself small, in fact quite little, 
when near her.” 

At the apartments of the Russian party when com- 
fortably coated in smoking jackets, and reclining in 
chairs made to woo the weary. His Highness, the 
Grand Duke, and his guide. Prince Gourkoff, dis- 
cuss the events of the evening spent at the Execu- 
tive Mansion, between whiffs of Russian cigarettes. 

The Prince, who has grown very thoughtful since 
he came to America, said: 

“Washington is not like New York and the other 
American cities that we have visited. I begin to 
think that the English newspaper correspondent was 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


191 


correct who wrote ‘New York may be the pocketbook 
of America, but at Washington one finds the heart of 
the nation.’ The officials and the Congressmen 
whom we met this evening are entirely free from af- 
fectation, very plain, simple, straightforward people. 
There is no veneering about them; they seem to 
voice the sentiments of the mass of the people more 
nearly than do the swell social set of New York and 
Philadelphia. I can’t say I am pleased at the situa- 
tion.” 

‘‘Then give me your opinion of the President and 
his daughter,” inquired Vladimar amused at his 
mentor’s discomfiture. 

“There, too, I fear, our ambassador has been mis- 
taken. The President’s whole manner indicates a 
total absence of the idea of personal aggrandizement. 
He receives the respect paid to him entirely as an 
honor due to his office. Accepts compliment and 
attention only as if rendered to the nation. He 
seems to say in every action ‘I am the servant of the 
people. I receive nothing but in the name of my 
master, the nation.’ There is more virtue, honesty, 
simplicity, and I fear, the spirit of the Anglo-Saxons 
here, than I had looked for,” replied thoughtfully the 
diplomatist. 

“What about the President’s daughter, my 
analyst?” asked the smiling Grand Duke. 

“I confess myself disappointed also with regard to 


192 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


the character of this woman upon whom rests the suc- 
cess of my enterprise. Unless I am greatly mis- 
taken, she is so intensely American that she would 
regard even the throne of Russia honored by the 
occupancy of a daughter of this Republic,” an- 
swered Prince Gourkotf indignantly. 

^^Then, like Othello, my occupation is gone here 
in America, and I may return at once to Russia,” 
cried the delighted Vladimar. 

^^Not so fast, Your Highness,” said Gourkoff 
quickly. may be mistaken; let us wait and play 
our cards carefully and with patience. Pay the 
young woman marked attention, and let me observe 
the result.” 

assure I have not the least objection to being 
attentive to Miss Morrison ; she is a most charming 
person ; but I tell you plainly, and you may notify 
my father, the Czar, if you care to, I will not make 
an ass of myself with a woman in whom I recognize 
a superior character, by any impertinent love-mak- 
ing,” exclaimed the Grand Duke firmly. 

‘^Well, use your own discretion in the form you 
pay attention to the American woman, only be con- 
stant in it,” said the wily Russian in conciliatory 
accent. 

The American Congress met in early session that 
winter; there was much necessary legislation to be 
enacted concerning the extensive domain of the Re- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


193 


public. The Russian visitors found Washington 
most attractive and enjoyed all the gayety of the 
National Capital during the fashionable season, being 
only absent for the brief visits that they made to 
Chicago, Niagara Falls and a few of the other places 
of especial interest in America. 

Prince Gourkotf spent the winter in paying profuse 
attention to the United States Senators. The Prince 
gave most perfect dinners, and arranged most artistic 
evening entertainments for the ladies of the Cabinet 
and Senatorial set. The Russian nobleman seemed 
constantly, and innocently (?) striving to please 
everyone. Apparently he succeeded most wonder- 
fully. 

Vladimar, at first as a duty, later from choice, be- 
came the constant attendant of the President’s 
daughter; in the drive, in the dance, at the theatre, 
at the White House, the Grand Duke was ever Helen’s 
attentive companion. So marked became the pre- 
ference of the Grand Duke for the society of the 
young mistress of the White House, that the omni- 
present press of the country could no longer keep 
silent. 

^‘An important international marriage in the near 
future is predicted,” ‘^America will soon lose one of its 
fairest daughters,” ‘^The Czarina of Russia may be 
an American,” ^^Our Helen may soon leave us,” 
‘^Like another Paris, the Grand Duke Vladimar may 


194 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


Steal the fair Helen.” Such paragraphs appeared 
now almost daily in the newspapers throughout the 
country. 

While Helen had formed, in anticipation, a rather 
ridiculous impression of the coming Russian Grand 
Duke, when he was presented, and she found instead 
of an insignificant weakling, a manly, tall, dignified 
person, she was quite ready to acknowledge her error, 
and in so doing made her American hero all the more 
admirable. 

The devotion of the Grand Duke was flattering 
and pleasing to the heroine of Montevideo. 

All women like the preference of one much sought 
after, and Helen, good and true as she was, still was 
a woman, and recognized the fact that Vladimar was 
the lion of the season. 

Surrounded from childhood by the fascinations of 
a royal court, with all its accompanying tempta- 
tions; seeing human nature in its most debased 
phases; the object of solicitation and undesired atten- 
tion, Vladimar was mystified, made happy, enamored 
by the republican simplicity and honesty of Helen, 
and the atmosphere ever present about the Executive 
palace of the great nation that he visited. 

It may seem incongruous and contradictory, but 
nevertheless it is true that the most blase roue, the 
debauched rake is ever most attracted by honesty, 
purity, guilelessness and virtue. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


196 


This American plebeian presented such a new 
phase of womanly character, that the transition from 
interested wonder to admiration and adoration was 
easy and rapid for the pampered and petted son of 
Ivan, Czar of all the Russias. 

Many strange fancies came floating through the 
thoughts of the Russian Grand Duke, during these 
winter days made happy by association with a good 
woman. 

‘Tt were better to be a plain soldier and have the 
honest love of a noble woman like Helen Morrison, 
than to wear in terror the crown of Russia, sur- 
rounded by the insincere worship of a crowd of 
sycophantic courtiers,” thus would meditate Vladi- 
mar, sick at heart at the recollection of the sham and 
tawdry tinsel that he knew existed about the royal 
sceptre. 

A more enterprising journal than all others of 
America, hoping to surpass all rival newspapers, one 
day printed with great black head lines, with many 
alleged portraits and much detail the full, authentic (?) 
account of the engagement, and approaching wedding 
of ^^Our Helen” and the Grand Duke of Russia. 

And a copy of the accursed paper went to Pales- 
tine, and was read by a soldier camping in the desert 
beyond the river Jordan. 

In the Senate of America at this time, was a small 


198 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


coterie of Senators who opposed the expansion of 
the power and glory of the republic. 

These Senators called the natural onward progress 
of the nation, the march toward ^^Imperialism.’ ^ 
Dubbed the development toward the manifest des- 
tiny of the nation a ^^most dangerous tendency.” 

God be praised for the blessing; there were but 
few such spirits in the Senate ! 

These Senators were perfectly honest, sincere and 
patriotic — not a question of it; still, they were not 
infallible ; in their earnest, honest zeal to prevent the 
enactment of what they really deemed dangerous 
measures they resorted to the time-honored (?) dila- 
tory tactics that are still suffered in the Senate of 
the Union. 

This small section of the Senate, composed of 
(^Senators elected by both the great political parties, 
led by Senators Angelo, Rossignol, Pulaski and Got- 
lieb, was ever an object of most solicitous attention 
on the part of Prince Gourkoff^ 

The Russian diplomatist cultivated the acquaint- 
ance of the ‘‘Anti-Imperialism” Senators with 
assiduity. He graphically depicted the dangers of 
expansion, and incidentally touched upon the inadvis- 
ability of the co-operation of the United States with 
Great Britain in championing the cause of Chris- 
tianity and Civilization in behalf of “a lot of half- 
breeds and semi-civilized savages.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


197 


Prince Gourkoff bemoaned lachrymoniously the 
extension of the Russian Empire, and discoursed 
learnedly upon the ills attendant upon the Russian- 
izing of Central Asia. 

Immensely important did the diplomat think the 
conversions he seemed making, judging, as many 
foreigners do, falsely, the American temper. 

Highly gratified by the newspaper accounts of the 
progress of his scheme for winning the influence of 
“that American woman,” the Prince deemed it hardly 
necessary to interview Vladimar concerning the par- 
ticulars of his fraudulent wooing. 

Only one cloud hovered ominously in the bright 
sky of the future, in the opinion of the Russian 
statesman, and that was the constantly increasing 
American force, naval and military, in the Mediter- 
ranean. 

The battleships McKinley, Cleveland, Harrison 
and Garfield had been added during the winter to 
the already extensive naval establishment of the 
American Mediterranean Station. 

Troop-ships constantly carried American soldiers 
eastward, increasing almost daily the power of the 
Anglo-Saxons in the European sea. 

Vladimar, the Grand Duke of Russia, was some- 
thing even better than a Royal Highness, he was a 
gentleman. His character had survived unspoiled 
the artificial and often poisonous atmosphere in 


198 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


which the scions of royalty so frequently grow to 
maturity. (God bless Good Queen Victoria! Her 
court was ever clean and wholesome). The manly, 
independent spirit of the Romanoffs, inherited from, 
historically recorded, unconventional ancestors, 
readily imbibed the air of independence, breathed in 
America’s realm of freedom. 

“Peter, my brother, will come into the terrible 
heritage of the Crown of Russia. I, surely, like the 
Great Peter of Russia, may love as I like! If I 
can but win the heart of this good woman, I can 
well afford to lose the anticipation of limitless, un- 
attractive power, and domination. If I am dis- 
owned, discarded, by my wrathful Czar and father, 
I still may win a position far from dishonorable with 
my sword in the armies of this great Republic, like 
that grand soldier Howard.” 

So oft in profound meditation thought His 
Highness. 

“Drop by drop the springs run dry, leaf by leaf 
the roses fall,” slowly and surely daily contact 
with the purity and honesty of Helen Morrison was 
bringing to the breast of Vladimar the rapture of the 
first feeling of true love’s wonderful thrilling. 
Cursed and execrated be all the rules empiric that 
make princes vow to love where love means loath- 
ing! Envied is the lot of the plain republicans, whose 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


199 


love may nestle like the bee close to the flower of its 
own choosing. 

^‘Czarovitch killed at Carlsbad!” ‘^Another As- 
sassination by Anarchists!” Flaring headlines! 
Many extra editions ! Cables hot with endless de- 
tails of the fearful explosion that blew into eternity 
the heir of all the Russias. 

That was how the news came to Vladimar, whose 
mind with thoughts of republican simplicity for the 
future had been filling, that some day, he would be 
Czar, Lord and Master of the Empire of Russia. 

Evaporated is the mist of Gourkoff’s machinations! 
Changed, altered, recast must be all the mouldings 
to suit the strangely disordered machinery of Rus- 
sian diplomacy. 

It was bad enough to bow royal Russian pride 
to the necessity of accepting that disagreeable 
alternative of commanding a Grand Duke to court, 
even in jest, ‘‘An American Nobody,” but to allow 
the Czarovitch to do so, of course is preposterous. 
Other means must be found to prevent an Anglo- 
American alliance. 

Gourkoff received orders from his master, “Send 
the Czarovitch Vladimar to Russia.” Excited Rus- 
sians whisper and bustle around the apartments, in the 
republican capital, of the future Czar of Russia. 
More obsequious has grown Prince Gourkoff as he 
salutes the rising sun of royalty. 


200 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


‘^When will it please Your Highness for me to 
have passage engaged for your suite? Your royal 
father requests your early departure for Europe, and 
by his order I am to remain, for the present, in 
America,” said the experienced courtier. 

^^When I get ready, I will sail for Russia. 
I have something of importance to attend to in 
America before leaving,” blurted out the future 
ruler of millions with the republican bluntness, and, 
(its shocking) the Yankee lack of diplomatic formula 
so easily acquired in America by every foreigner. 

Vladimar made no exhibition of pretended grief 
over the news of the death of his brother. Prac- 
tically they had been strangers to each other ; the ten 
years that separated the birthdays of the royal chil- 
dren had reared an impassible barrier between the 
brothers. Peter was a young man while Vladimar 
was still an urchin. 

Helen Morrison, a devoted lover of flowers, was 
among the beautiful blossoms that make radiant and 
odoriferous the conservatory of the White House, 
when the Grand Duke’s card was presented to her, 
and she bade the attendant usher His Highness into 
that, the most attractive apartment of the National 
Mansion. 

To Helen’s hearty welcome, tinged with a tone of 
consolation, the new Czarovitch responded by saying : 

^^Miss Morrison, I have grown so weary of the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


201 


Stale, flat, and meaningless speeches ever sounding 
in the ears of those in my position, that I seek your 
society, feeling that I am sure that my meaning will 
be understood, when I say I cannot feel deep sorrow 
at the death of my brother. We were almost as 
-strangers to each other. His Majesty, my Czar and 
father, demands my instant return to Russia! In 
stating that royal order, I state the cause of my only 
sorrow.” 

Helen, somewhat surprised at the changed de- 
meanor of the Grand Duke, and realizing there must 
be some hidden meaning in the expression of his 
regret at leaving America, exclaimed: 

“I am indeed delighted that Your Highness has 
found my country so attractive as to cause regret at 
leaving it.” 

‘H’ll not indulge in the exchange of national 
courtesies and compliments ! Miss Morrison, Helen ! 
It is you I love, not your country I Hear me, dearest, 
most adorable, to me, of all women, I had rather wear 
your love in my heart as its chief est jewel, than 
possess the undisputed dominion of all created earth. 
In course of nature I will wear the Crown of Russia ; 
I am willing most solemnly to abjure it; it becomes, 
if it be an obstacle, a mere bauble beside your 
love, my darling. Bless my realm and me with 
your sweet presence, and the future holds no added 
happiness for me and Russia,” said the Grand Duke, 


202 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


Vladimar, waving princely phrasing as naturally in 
the expression of his sincere sentiments, as the 
veriest plebeian citizen of the Republic telling the 
story of his love to the humblest hearer. 

Helen, never dreaming of such a denouement, 
was rendered speechless by the passionate utterance 
of the Grand Duke’s unsuspected sentiments, and re- 
mained silent, confused, until aroused by the ardent 
Russian seizing her hand and covering it with kisses. 

‘‘Your Highness! Cease! Forgive me; you are 
mistaken,” cried the now thoroughly alarmed young 
woman. 

“You have been misled unintentional. I am at 
fault; forgive me! I had no idea that you, in your 
position, could possibly misconstrue my meaning in 
accepting your attentions. As I am an honest 
woman, I am sorry; forgive me!” almost pleaded 
conscientious Helen, the plebeian woman of the 
people. 

Undismayed and not discouraged by the pleading 
of Helen, the ardent wooer pressed his suit with 
vehement and earnest manner; urged all that 
his past knowledge of the female sex seemed attract- 
ive. Position, Power, Wealth, all that men ever 
consider prime inducements with women, the royal 
Russian placed before the plebeian “Nobody.” 

Unlike Catherine, when the Great Peter pleaded, 
Helen, while greatly troubled, would not listen and. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


finally constrained, by the Grand Duke’s persistence, 
to end a scene distressing, exclaimed in desperation: 

love another man. Your Highness, for heaven’s 
sake be silent. I am almost distracted by the fear 
that unconsciously I have misled you into making 
this declaration. 

Of all measures to quell the flames of love’s fires 
none is so entirely efficient as the statement, ^‘1 love 
another.” The flood of Vladimar’s fervid utter- 
ances was instantaneously ended, but still clinging 
to the hope of finally winning, reluctant to relinquish 
what appeared so desirable and so sure of ac- 
complishment, the Russian Prince continued more 
calmly and with greater calculation, in the presentation 
of all the favorable phases of a marriage with the 
* heir of Russia. 

must end this interview. Your Highness,” at 
last exclaimed the much distressed daughter of the 
President. 

‘Ht may be my fault that such a situation is possi- 
i ble. I will atone. Your Highness, by a frank state- 
I ment of why I cannot listen with approval to your 
I proposal. I love an American soldier dearly, and 
I though, from his exaggerated idea of my worth, and 
I his all too modest opinion of his own merits, he has 
! hesitated to avow his love for me, still I own to you 
j I love him. I tell you, knowing you for a man of 
honor, though uncourted, my heart’s king is a soldier 


204 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


of the Republic. Wealth, power, position and 
the love of a universal monarch could not swerve 
the devotion of my heart from its hero.” 

There was too much evidence of honesty, and 
candor in the statement made by Helen, whose crim- 
son cheeks told the story of the struggle between 
maidenly modesty and duty in making such an 
avowal, to leave room for a doubt of her sincerity. 
While loath to relinquish any object of desire, but con- 
vinced all further pleading would be futile, Vladi- 
mar, disconcerted and humbled, asked: 

‘^May I have the melancholy satisfaction of know- 
ing by whom I am so far surpassed in all that ap- 
pears deserving in your sight, fair lady?” 

‘^Do not. Your Highness, affect a manner that is 
unworthy of your better nature. Surely, I have been 
heedless, thoughtless, wrong, perhaps, but had no in- 
tention nor dreamed of what might follow our com- 
panionship. I will drink of the cup of my humilia- 
tion. I will tell you, I am sure you are too good a 
gentleman to reveal the confession, the name of the 
man I love — he saved your life. It is George 
Howard.” 

Vladimar, who had never heard of even Helen’s 
acquaintance with his rescuer at Gibraltar, could 
only ejaculate: 

‘ ‘My God ! The only American that I am obligated 
to.” He paused, while remembrance, with cyclonic 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


205 


force, swept his mind back to a scene in the moon- 
light beneath grim Gibraltar’s rock. Mastering his 
feelings of chagrin and disappointment, like the gal- 
lant, grateful gentleman that he was, he added: 

‘‘Miss Morrison, I can honestly congratulate you 
upon your choice of the man upon whom you bestow 
the inestimable worth of your affection. Brave, and 
loyal I know him to be. May he ever merit the 
prize of possessing the love you give him. Vladimar 
of Russia will ever gratefully remember you, sweet 
lady, and the man you honor. In a friend, be as- 
sured, you will never be lacking while Vladimar 
lives.” 

* * * * * 

“When does the next ship leave for Europe, 
Prince? I wish to sail immediately,” said the Grand 
Duke abruptly as he entered the rooms of the Rus- 
sian party. Gourkoff, happy at the prompt acqui- 
escence of the Czarovitch in the mandate of His 
Majesty the Czar of Russia, responded: 

“Two days hence, a ship sails from New York, 
Your Highness.” 

“Engage staterooms for our party, I will leave 
America at once,” said Vladimar with an admixture 
of anger and sorrow in his voice and manner. 

“Hurried departure of the Grand Duke of Rus- 
sia,” “New complications in Europe,” “Prince 
Gourkoff remains with us yet a little longer.” “The 

I 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Grand Duke expresses admiration for America in an 
interview with the special correspondent of the Great 
and Only American News fafery ^^The Czarovitch 
sends a last farewell to America when one thousand 
miles from Sandy Hook, by the Alaska Times' tug.” 

Sic transit gloria mundiT The royal visitor 
and the refulgent glory of his presence in America 
are things of the past. Gone with the wild, grand 
flourish of graphic journalism for which our dear 
nation is justly (with full justice) famous. 


CHAPTER X. 


Farewell, Fond Hope! 

JN an exceedingly short time Howard’s White 
Cross troopers became the terror of desert 
marauders and other evil-doers of Palestine. 

The Arabs at first did not realize the danger of 
defying the plain, unadorned Western horsemen, 
who were so entirely free from theatrical flourish 
and dramatic demeanor. An object lesson was nec- 
essary, and Howard determined quickly to furnish it 
to them. 

Soon after his arrival in Asia, Howard received 
his commission as Brigadier-General, and assumed 
command of the entire cavalry force attached to 
General Gordon’s Army. With the commission 
came a personal letter from the President, urging 
Howard to use the utmost speed in ending the cam- 
paign in Palestine and Syria. 

Having established his headquarters in the plain 
\ of Esdraelon, the American cavalry commander im- 
i mediately began a system of scouting and patrolling 
along the eastern and northern borders of the sacred 
' district, sending detachments in every direction whence 
danger of incursion by the Arabs might be expected. 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


It was during the time that his force was so scat- 
tered and within a few weeks of his coming to Pales- 
tine, that General Howard secured the opportunity 
for teaching the Mahdi’s horde a lesson. 

Many wealthy Hebrews of orthodox Jewish relig- 
ion, grown weary of the social and often legal 
differentiation that exists in Europe, except in Eng- 
land, between Jews and Christians, had sought rest, 
peace and freedom from petty persecution in the 
Promised Land” of their fathers. 

Around Tiberias and near the Sea of Galilee many 
European Jews had built beautiful homes, and taste- 
fully arranged villas. 

Prior to the coming of the American soldiers, the 
Mohammedans had ruthlessly destroyed the majority 
of these delightful dwellings. A few, however, re- 
mained and had become, by reason of the wealth of 
their owners, objects of intense detestation to the 
mob of religious fanatics gathered under the Mahdi’s 
standard. 

One evening, as General Howard and the genial 
Chaplain of the Fourteenth were dining, camp fash- 
ion, at headquarters, near the shore of that sacred Sea 
of Galilee, a courier arrived in breathless haste with 
the information that a large force of Bedouin Arabs 
had eluded the detachments of cavalry east of Jordan 
river and was making straight for Tiberias, burning 
and slaughtering as it hurried onward. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


209 


Boots and Saddle” rang out the bugles instantly 
through the camp of the White Cross Cavalry. The 
General had only a couple of hundred troopers with 
him at headquarters, but to hesitate and count num- 
bers was not part of the Virginian’s nature. Almost 
as quickly as one can write it, the command was 
formed and prepared for marching. Long training 
had rendered the Fourteenth rather speedy in mat- 
ters of preparation for fighting. 

As the commander gave the order ^‘Forward,” he 
noticed Father O’Neil — all in ^^fighting trim,” as the 
priest called it — beside him, mounted and ready for 
action. 

^^Why! Chaplain, are you going on a night foray 
with us?” exclaimed Howard. 

surely am, General, if you will permit nie. I 
feel a double duty in this campaign. I represent two 
armies, Christ’s and the Union’s,” said the vigorous 
representative of muscular Christianity tucking up 
his cassock, ready for riding. 

^^Then boot to boot. Father, and Forward,” cried 
the commander as he struck his spurs on his 
charger’s side and the steed sprang forward. 

The distance from the camp to Tiberias was 
almost fifteen miles, but the seasoned American 
horses never faltered, the troop of cavalry swept 
onward nearly in parade order. At its head, going 


210 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


like a team of well-trained carriage horses, in perfect 
step, went the Commander’s and Chaplain’s chargers. 

As Father O’Neil caught a glimpse in the starlight 
of the hard-set face of his companion, riding sternly 
and silently, beside him and remembered the warning 
sent by Howard to the Mahdi on his first coming to 
the country, the good Chaplain murmured to himself: 

^‘1 am sorry for the poor devils of heathens, if Big 
George catches them, while he’s in this humor.” 

When the white roofs of Tiberias appeared in the 
distance, suddenly flames shot into the air, from 
among the Jewish villas in outskirts of the little city. 

Howard turned in his saddle, and called on his men 
to put spurs to their horses and hasten forward, then 
striking the rowels deep into the sides of his now 
running steed, he whirled his saber from its scabbard 
and at racing speed rushed toward the scene of con- 
flagration. 

The Chaplain had a drop or two of wild Irish rac- 
ing blood in him, (and the Irish are the fiend’s own 
children when on horseback), and he answered' his 
leader’s challenge by pressing his horse to its utmost 
going powers. 

So side by side, Howard, saber in hand, (and it 
was not still for an instant), and the priest, broke 
through the mob of howling Mohammedan Arabs 
about the villas of the European Jews. 

Slashing right and left at the white-robed fol- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


211 


lowers of the new prophet, the American officer 
cleared a pathway for himself and comrade to the 
doorway of a handsome, just ignited villa, whence 
issued screams of terror and anguish. 

The Yankee troopers by this time were among the 
Arabs, and many a follower of the prophet had only 
time to cry Allah I” ere he perished by the hand of 
the Western avenger. 

Howard sprang from his horse as he reached the 
veranda of the burning residence, and dashed the 
door that guarded the entrance to the dwelling from 
its hinges with his massive shoulder, brushed aside 
an old white-haired man who, misunderstanding the 
meaning of the intrusion, made weak but frantic 
efforts to restrain him, and rushed up the stairs 
whence proceeded the wild screaming of female 
voices. 

When in a few moments the General reappeared, 
and descended the stairway through the smoke and 
sparks of the lower story of the dwelling, he bore on 
one arm an aged, infirm woman and on the other a 
frightened white-faced little maid of six or seven 
years of age. Just beyond the doorway he found 
the old man who had attempted to bar his entrance, 
struggling in the grasp of the Chaplain, who was 
with gentle force restraining the distracted old 
Hebrew from casting himself into the flames of the 
burning building. 


212 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


When the struggling Jew saw the great American 
bearing in his arms the two figures, he tore himself 
from the grasp of the priest, and rushing with 
clasped hands raised upward to heaven before the 
giant soldier, fell on his knees, crying in the depth 
of his agony: 

Spare! Oh! cruel Christian, spare my wife and 
grandchild!” 

^^Pick the old man up. Chaplain! Here you 
men! Take this child and woman to some place of 
safety! Blow the assembly, bugler! Fall in, men, 
we will pursue these villains,” came the quick com- 
mands of the American leader. 

Dazed and in wonder the old Hebrew gazed about 
him at the white crosses, and then at the tender solici- 
tude of their rough wearers for the ancient dame and 
almost baby maiden, and as if half-demented, half- 
dreaming, all reason quite distracted, he stopped still 
and placing his hand on the Chaplain’s breast where 
the white cross gleamed, and in doubting accent 
almost whispered: 

‘^Are you, indeed, believers in that symbol, the 
sign of the chosen people’s oppression? Are you 
really Christians and still succor the persecuted 
Jews?” ‘‘Are you, who are so kind and gentle, a dis- 
ciple and teacher of the Nazarene, whom they call 
Christ? You are clothed in that priestly garb of 
black, the attire most dreaded by the children of 
Israel.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


213 


The imaginative nature of the priest’s Celtic tem- 
perament, stirred by the scene, and thoughts associ- 
ated in his mind with this spot almost within sight of 
Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, the flames from the 
building illuminating with a circle of light the group 
of rough soldiers, their tall chief, the terror-stricken 
women and the aged, half-crazed Hebrew, inspired 
the Chaplain to raise his hand on high, and in the 
melodious voice of the Celts proudly and solemnly to 
say: 

‘^Yea, brother, though you deny Him, whom we 
worship, as His priest, and as His children, we come 
in His name to succor even the disbelieving 
Israelites, for 

He came, the Lord Jesus, Man, Warrior and God, 

Bringing Hope and Salvation to those ’neath the rod, 

This Cross was His banner, He raised it on high. 

Come ye who are heavy ladened was Christ’s battle cry. 

‘‘This is the American Army of the Lord, and with 
our brothers under the British flag, we intend to 
make of the joined names of our two Anglo-Saxon 
nations a shield for the suffering everywhere, in the 
name of Him you call the Nazarene, our Savior.” 

The now trembling Jew, his fear and excite- 
ment palsied limbs almost sinking as the artificial 
strength of his dementia departed, cried out: 

“Now, Oh! God of Abraham, have I lived to see 
an act of kindness done to thy despised children in 
the name of Him called Christ.” 


214 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Leaving the alarmed and plundered Jews in the 
care of the Chaplain, General Howard prepared to 
pursue the flying Mohammedans, sending couriers to 
the detached portions of his cavalry, appointing a 
rendezvous beyond Jordan. Then, like relentless 
fate, with his immediate command, he started after 
the plunderers, declaring will follow them to 
the Persian Gulf if need be.” 

For four weeks the fleeing Arabs knew no rest. 
Like avenging angels the blue-coated American 
horsemen never ceased nor rested in their tireless 
chase behind their prey. When, after days spent in 
panic-stricken flight, completely worn out by fatigue, 
thinking themselves safe for a few brief hours of 
repose, the Arabs would pitch their tents in some 
rocky gully. Hardly would the saddles be removed 
from their horses, than, with the desert sand deaden- 
ing the sound of their coming, the Yankee cavalry 
would swoop down upon the worshipers of Mahomet. 

Far out on the Syrian desert where a large spring 
of life-giving water had formed an oasis, finally the 
distracted tribesmen halted, utterly exhausted and 
desperate, hoping and trusting that the iron-framed 
men and horses of their Western foemen could not 
follow so lar over the heart-breaking sand of the 
desert. 

As if by common consent, the scattered bands of 
Bedouins, attacked by the several detachments of 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


215 


American cavalry hurrying to join General Howard, 
sought this oasis for safety. Soon this one small 
green island of fertility in the surrounding sea of 
sand held nearly all of the principal chiefs or sheiks 
of the Mahdi’s mounted forces. 

The doomed robbers, whose creed is death and 
despoliation for disbelievers, had not counted upon 
the wonderful endurance of the American, man and 
horse. Sustained by meagre ^ ^emergency rations” 
eked out by a few dates, the parchment-faced, gaunt, 
leathery Yankee troopers seemed invincible to heat, 
hunger and fatigue. Like wolf-hounds they followed, 
and having corailed” the herd of desert bandits, 
Howard hurled his horsemen upon the devoted fol- 
lowers of the Prophet. 

Dispersed and flying in terror before the soldiers of 
the Republic, the Arabs scattered over the boundless 
waste of sun-parched dreariness. Howard, who, as 
usual, was foremost in the onslaught, followed 
eagerly a party that seemed endeavoring to 
secure the escape of some leader, or head sheik. 

With a half score troopers who had outridden their 
comrades, the Virginian at last burst among the 
rapidly retreating squad of Arabs. Useless was the 
resistance of the tribesmen, against the headlong 
charge of the Americans. After a brief struggle, 
the little group of Arabs parted, torn asunder, each 
heedless of all save his own safety. 


216 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


The General, seeing the figure that had seemed 
the object of solicitude when the party fled from the 
oasis, speeding in the darkness toward the desert, and 
thinking perhaps he might capture some great 
leader, and by so doing end the predatory warfare 
of Arabs, forsook the balance of his party and pur- 
sued alone the single fleeing horseman. 

Mile after mile across the loose sand flew the 
noiseless riders, until coming to a spot strewn with 
broken, half-buried fragments of rock, the steed of 
the Arab, wounded and worn out, stumbled, fell, and 
in falling carried his rider to the ground and pinned 
him beneath the horse’s frantically struggling body. 

When Howard’s panting steed reached the spot, 
groans of anguish were coming from the hapless 
rider of the fallen charger. It was the work of only 
an instant for the American to dismount and drag 
the groaning Arab from beneath the crushing burden 
of the horse’s body. When the American raised the 
sufferer, he found that he held in his arms the 
breathless, apparently lifeless form of an Arab lad of 
perhaps fifteen years of age. 

The American forced a few drops of water from 
the canteen he carried at his saddle, between the lips 
of the fainting boy and by gently rubbing and moist- 
ening the lad’s hands and brow soon had the satis- 
faction of seeing him revive sufficiently to open his 
eyes. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


217 


Much experience in the field had taught the Virgin- 
ian enough of surgery to know that the irrepressible 
groan given forth by the suffering youth as soon as 
the soldier’s hand touched the Arab’s hip in raising 
him up, meant some serious dislocation. Alone, in 
darkness, in the midst of a trackless desert, bur- 
dened now with a wounded boy whom he could not 
abandon to die, Howard ‘was perfectly lost how to 
act. 

The young Arab watched the American, as after 
placing him as comfortably on the sand as possible, 
he examined the dying horse of the boy, and finding 
it past all further effort at carrying its master, he 
returned to the side of the sufferer with a puzzled 
expression. 

The Arab, unable to make himself understood by ' 
words, but knowing that the American wanted to 
assist and relieve him, pointed with eager gesture 
toward the direction he had been going when the 
mishap to his horse occurred, speaking rapidly and 
earnestly in the language of the Arabs. 

Howard, seeing no other alternative, if he would 
save the poor fellow, mounted his horse, holding 
and carrying the boy in his arms and started in 
the direction indicated by the lad’s gestures. The 
American, as he rode through the darkness, muttered 
to himself, ‘Ht’s rather risky to put myself in the 
power of these wild zealots, but there’s no help for 


218 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


it; SO hero goes, I can’t leave this poor little devil.” 

On and on through the darkness, oter the soft 
sand stumbled the weary horse of the American with 
its double burden, until the first gray light of 
morning began streaking the Eastern sky; then, as 
the light grew brighter, Howard noticed the charac- 
ter of the desert had changed and become hilly and 
rocky. Suddenly, as his horse descended, stumbling 
down a rocky decline into a deep gully, he found 
himself surrounded by armed Arabs, 

Flight was impossible ; to fight, however, was 
second nature with the American. Quickly letting 
the young Arab slip to the sand, he drew his saber 
for battle. The boy, without ceasing, screamed forth 
between groans of pain a perfect torrent of passionate 
words, which acted like magic upon the conduct of 
the tribesmen. They cast their weapons down upon 
the sand and came forward with motions suggestive 
of friendship and gratitude, and prepared to raise the 
lad. 

The American cavalryman, not comprehending 
what was spoken, stood saber in hand ready to 
defend himself, watching the Arabs who now had 
approached the lad and were listening to his rapid 
relation of some story, whcm a commanding voice 
was heard, and as the group around the boy parted 
a stately Arab sheik stepped forward and addressed 
Howard in the French language. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


219 


The tall Arab informed Howard that he was 
Ben Achmid, the leader of the Mahdi’s mounted 
i forces; that he was the Commander of the Con- 
' federate Bedouins ; that he and the head men of the 
tribes had been present in the fight at the oasis, and 
I when overwhelmed by the Western warriors, he had 
given orders, as his band scattered in flight, that this 
spot, well known to all of his tribe, was to be the 
rendezvous ; that the youth Howard had brought to 
the camp was his only son, from whom in the retreat 
the sheik had become separated. 

‘^Thou, son of the fair-haired giants, hast proved 
I thyself a scourge and terror to the followers of Allah 
! and His Prophet, but as thou hast saved the son of 
! my old age to me, thou art as safe in the tent of Ben 
Achmid as in the camp of thy own strange and terri- 
ble swordsmen,” concluded the chieftain with solemn 
dignity. 

With courtly courtesy the sheik bade Howard 
enter his hastily arranged tent and rest until his steed 
had regained strength sufficient to carry the Ameri- 
can commander back to his army. The Virginian, 
like all men who are strong and brave, free from 
suspicion, fear’s companion, readily and frankly 
accepted the Arab’s proffered hospitality, and was 
soon seated beneath the white folds of the desert 
dwelling of the Bedouin chieftain. 

While these two representatives of warriors past 


220 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


and present were sitting side by side, they presented 
a contrast recalling the romantic story of the 
meeting of the Saladin, and the Lion-hearted King 
of England. The Sheik gazed with undisguised 
admiration upon the gigantic proportions of the fair- 
haired Anglo-Saxon, and marveled at the great 
muscles that moved like huge serpents coiling 
beneath the snowy skin of the American where the 
open shirt displayed to view the neck and breast of 
the splendid soldier. 

Howard regarded with surprise the swift supple- 
ness of the motions of the long, lithe, sinewy limbs 
of his dark host as he moved about in his loose- 
flowing robe of white muslin, making movements 
with the stealth and flexibility of a pliant-muscled 
panther. Quietly smoking together in the shade of 
the canvas awning, Howard Sciized the opportunity 
to discuss with the Arab leader the futility of further 
struggling against the might of America. 

Until the sun was descending on the western hori- 
zon the two leaders discussed the situation. The 
Arab asked many questions concerning the Ameri- 
can nation, saying, ‘‘The warriors of thy strange 
nation are like, and still unlike, the red-coated soldiers 
of the English. We, the sons of the desert, learned 
long years ago to fear the lion courage of the British 
with whom we vainly battled in the Soudan. Thou 
hast that same reckless valor. Thou hast the same 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


221 


I tongue, and fair face of the English, but with the 
[lion nature of the men of England thou hast also 
i the subtle cunning and fierce spirit of the sons of 
Arabia. Thou hast, joined together the courage of 
' the lion and the tireless inveteracy of the tiger, in thy 
I Anglo-American nature. Canst thou explain the 
meaning of that engrafting, as strange as if the wild 
fig were joined with the home shade-giver?” 

The Virginian related the historical narrative of 
how the natures of the first Anglo-Americans had 
been changed by their environments, how sur- 
rounded by vast forests and countless savages, they 
! had bravely contended against tremendous forces of 
: man and nature, and at last, when success had 
! crowned their efforts, traces of the fearful struggle 
still remained in the character of the people of Amer- 
ica to mark a difference between them, and their 
ancestors, the English, and give evidence of an 
experience only possible, with survival, to an Anglo- 
Saxon people. 

Howard explained to the chieftain that the endless 
energy and persistency, almost fierce and sometimes 
wolfish, that distinguished the Americans from their 
British cousins, were inherited peculiarities derived 
from Anglo-Saxon ancestors, created in them, by the 
necessity of constant struggle against conditions 
in the new home of their making on the Western 
Hemisphere. 


222 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


After hours of earnest argument, General Howard 
SO impressed Ben Achmid with the truth of his frank 
and soldierly , statement, of the uselessness of contin- 
uing to disturb the peace of Palestine, and being 
taught by the recent slaughter of his tribesmen that 
certain punishment would follow each plundering 
expedition, the Sheik finally agreed to meet the 
American commander at a designated spot east of 
the river Jordan, and to bring to the meeting the 
head men of the Bedouins, there to arrange terms 
for a lasting peace between the Americans and Arabs 
and to insure security to the Jews in Palestine. 

When General Howard in the twilight bade adieu 
to the Arab, and prepared to follow the guide fur- 
nished by the Sheik to lead the American to the oasis 
where the Union Cavalry had halted, Ben Achmid 
placed a dull-hued golden ring in Howard’s hand, 
saying: 

^^Thou art a man, heart, head and hand. I shall 
ever remember thee, and what thou hast done for me, 
and my tribe of kinsmen in showing us the error of 
further warfare against those protected by that 
strange nation represented by thee. Take this ring, 
think sometimes of Ben Achmid as thine eyes gaze 
at it, and shouldst thou ever be in need or danger, and a 
true Believer of our holy order be near thee, call upon 
him, show him the signs emblazoned on that golden 
circle and he will aid thee in thine hour of peril. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 223 

\ 

Our holy order extends wherever the Prophet’s name 
is venerated, and the Crescent waves its sacred 
standard.” 

The gratified Virginian accepted the gift of Ben 
Achmid, and promised to suspend all further hostili- 
ties with the Arabs while waiting for the day 
appointed for their meeting to conclude the proposed 
peace, and parted with the stately warrior of the 
desert with many mutual expressions of kind feeling. 

As Howard placed the ring, given by the Sheik, 
upon his finger, he noticed the cabalistic signs, half 
masonic, by which it was encircled and wondered if 
he should ever need to make use of the potential 
qualities that the Arab declared it possessed. 

Scarcely had a dozen miles of the tiresome sand 
been covered when a short sharp challenge came out 
of the darkness ^^Halt!” The American officer, 
who knew from long comradeship the voice of 
almost every man of the Fourteenth regiment, 
answered promptly, ‘‘All right, Hollins.” 

“Glad you are safe. General!” said the trooper 
saluting his commander, and looking sideways 
suspiciously at the Arab guide, added, “The Four- 
teenth are scouring this whole infernal region, and 
if we had not found you, we would have sent many 
of these dirty niggers to join their Prophet in a 
country far hotter than Palestine.” 

Howard, delighted with the success of his negotia- 


224 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


tions with Ben Achmid, and pleased at the devotion 
of his rough troopers to him, reached his anxious 
soldiers in the oasis, after a few hours’ ride through 
the cool night air, as the day was breaking. In great 
good humor was the American General as he dashed 
into camp early in the morning amid the cheering of 
his comrades of many campaigns. 

Hardly had the weary Virginian finished a scanty 
breakfast of bitter black coffee and hard tack, when re- 
newed cheering told of some new cause of enthusiasm 
among the troopers. The explanation of the excite- 
ment was easy when a courier made his appearance 
at the General’s quarters with dispatches from Gen- 
eral Gordon, and the mail from America for the 
command. 

Howard’s fatigue was instantly forgotten as his 
portion of the contents of the precious mail pouch 
was handed to him. One by one he read the dis- 
patches and letters, until he came to a long gossipy 
communication from an old friend and brother officer 
stationed at Washington. This letter he read twice 
or thrice, all the expression of happiness so recently 
wreathing his face in smiles, leaving his countenance 
as he perused the contents of his Washington corre- 
spondent’s epistle. At last, with almost a groan, so 
deep was the sigh that escaped him, he cast the letter 
from him and tore the wrapper from an American 
newspaper that lay among his letters. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


226 


The General unfolded a copy of ^^the most enter- 
prising journal” in America, and saw spread before 
his bewildered eyes the ‘Tull and authentic account 
of the approaching wedding of the Grand Duke of 
Russia and the President’s daughter.” The letter 
from Washington had suggested something of the 
kind, and had troubled the soldier greatly, but the sight 
of such a statement in bold black type was perfectly 
heartrending to him. The paper fell from his hand, 
his head sunk upon his breast and lost to everything 
save his own misery, he remained motionless for hours. 

When finally aroused to a sense of his position by 
the coming of an officer for orders, only one conclu- 
sion or settled idea held firm hold upon the mind of 
the utterly dejected and heartbroken American, and 
that idea, while unreasoning and ungenerous, was 
the one most natural under the circumstances to a 
man of his temperament and training. The one fixed 
resolve was hatred, and undying vengeance for Russia 
and Russians. 

That night as the cavalry marched back toward 
Jordan, the General rode alone at the head of the 
column, and as through the long hours of darkness 
he pondered over his sorrow, he determined never to 
return to America, to resign from the army of the 
Republic and enter the British service, knowing that 
ere long a clash of arms would surely occur between 
Russia and Great Britain. 


336 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Soon after the arrival of Howard’s command at 
the rendezvous named by Ben Achmid as the place of 
meeting of the American officer and the Bedouin 
sheiks, the Arab chieftains, led by Ben Achmid, made 
their appearance. 

Howard readily granted the only condition named 
by the Bedouins, that was that they should not be 
molested in their desert homes again by the “fair- 
haired, tireless giant of the Christians.” On their 
part they willingly placed hostages in the hands of 
the American army to insure the security of the Jews 
in Palestine. 

Thus did the cavalry commander conclude the 
campaign against the Apaches of Syria, and secure 
the northern and eastern border of Palestine against 
the periodical ravages of the fanatical horde of 
desert robbers. 

Ben Achmid, who had observed the cloud of sor- 
row that darkened the frank brow of the American 
chief, said to him at parting: 

“Thou hast had some great sorrow since we parted. 
Shouldst thou find friends untrue, or experience sore 
disappointment among thine own people, come to the 
tents of Ben Achmid and thou shaltfind friends, rest, 
and quiet, in the noiseless realm of the Arabs.” 

The Virginian, while he grasped the hand of the 
stately Sheik, said: 

“I thank you sincerely, Ben Achmid ; it may come 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


227 


to my seeking seclusion in your hospitable tent ; a 
great sorrow has come to my heart since I last parted 
with you, but first I must do what duty demands of 
me. 

As the departing Arabs disappeared across the 
sandy desert, Howard stood gazing after them. 
When the party was lost to sight in the distance, the 
soldier murmured sadly: 

‘^Why not fly to the tents of Ben Achmid? For 
me the world is all a desert now, for I have said 
farewell, fond hope, forever.” 

When Howard reached Tiberias the grateful Jews 
hastened to his headquarters to express their grati- 
tude toward him personally, as well as to the American 
Republic. The old man whose wife and grandchild 
the General had saved, explained his failure to 
recognize the American soldiers as friends and pro- 
tectors of the Jews in Palestine by saying: 

“You will forgive me. General, when I tell you the 
reason for my temporary insanity. I, as a young 
man, had married and grown rich in Russia; perse- 
cution, on account of my religion, forced me to fly 
from that country. I settled in Strassburg; God 
sent two sons to bless my old age. Where are they 
now? Dead! Murdered because they v/ere Jews. 
My first born, obliged to enter the German army, 
became an officer ; he was taunted and bullied by his 
brother officers because he was a Jew, until flesh and 


228 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


blood could stand it no longer. A cruel duel was 
fought, and my Aaron was brought to me a corpse.” 

The Hebrew bowed his white head for a moment 
as if in prayer, and then in a broken voice continued: 

‘‘My only remaining child, my son Jacob, married 
and moved from Strassburg to Paris. He was a 
financier, a banker. A scandal arose in the military 
department of France. Jacob had many transac- 
tions with high officials of the French army. A 
scapegoat was needed to satisfy the howling Parisian 
press, who so easily persecuted as a hated Jew? 
Jacob was imprisoned, unjustly. It broke his heart, 
and my poor boy died leaving his little motherless 
daughter as the sole comfort of my old age. Brave 
Christian, can you wonder that in the madness of 
my fright and excitement I forgot that the Americans 
and English were always just to the Jews, and 
that your nation had sent its soldiers to protect the 
children of Israel in Palestine?” 

“God knows! Old man, you have cause to hate 
and distrust the Christians,” answered the American 
when the sad story was ended. 

Now that he had terminated all danger from 
Bedouin Arabs to the Jews, and to the line of com- 
munication with the coast, Howard deemed the 
special duty for which he was sent, performed, 
therefore he made hasty preparations for placing the 
officer next in grade in command of the American 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


229 


cavalry, and leaving Palestine for Naples, deter- 
mined, when he reached Italy, to tender his resigna- 
tion by cable and seek service in the British army. 

The Virginian had become so gloomy and hope- 
less, that the future held no anticipation that seemed 
inviting to him, save only the wish to meet and fight 
Russia and Russians — all other hope from his bold 
heart had vanished. 


CHAPTER XL 


Duty, Surest Safeguard. 

^ADAM, I had pointed out to me this morning 
the American officer, who so severely wounded 
Count Orloff in the recent duel, and it may interest 
you to know that he is the same American who 
saved the life of the Czarovitch at Gibraltar.” So 
spoke Louis, former valet of the Grand Duke 
Vladimar, as in the capacity of semi-secretary, spy 
and newsgatherer he made his morning report to his 
mistress, the Princess Gourkoff. 

‘‘What! You must be mistaken,” exclaimed the 
fair Princess instantly interested, for she had listened 
listlessly to the usual budget of gossip, brought by 
her valet with her coffee every morning, until 
he mentioned Vladimar. 

The Princess Gourkoff had come to Naples to 
escape the cold and disagreeable weather of the 
French capital during the months of February and 
March, and was, this bright March morning, accord- 
ing little attention to the valet’s news as she sipped 
her coffee, until he touched the subject of greatest 
interest to her. 

‘T cannot be mistaken. My lady; I saw the officer 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


281 


at Gibraltar, before I left His Highness,” replied the 
valet. 

“I have seen some account of the duel, but gave 
the matter little attention ; now, however, the affair 
assumes a different aspect. Can you relate the 
particulars?” eagerly asked the aroused Princess. 

”The facts, Madam, as stated by Count Du Bois, 
the French nobleman, who acted as Count Orloff’s 
second, briefly are these: One evening a number of 
French and Russian gentlemen were seated around 
a table at the Casino here in Naples. Count OrlofF, 
who was one of the party, was quite merry as the 
result of much champagne, and in jest made a 
remark concerning the visit to America of the 
Czarovitch, and a morganatic marriage with the 
American President’s daughter. The Count’s tone 
of voice was so loud as to attract the attention of 
those around him. This American officer was seated 
alone at the next table, and as soon as the laugh 
occasioned by the remark had subsided, he arose 
from his seat and approached the Russian party, 
laying his card upon the center of the table, the 
American said, so that the whole room heard the 
remark ; 

'You are a liar, and the men who have laughed 
at your lying statements are cowards and puppies;” 
and with the remark the American slapped Count 
Orloff on both sides of his face with the gloves that he 


232 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


carried in his hand. Of course, Madam, you know 
what followed,” and Louis bowed. 

‘‘And next, what next happened ?” said the excited 
lady. 

I thought My lady was informed concerning the 
rest of the matter. Lord Beresland, the eccentric 
old English lord, who is so wealthy, has only one 
arm and wears a V. C., though unacquainted with 
the American, stepped to the Yankee officer’s side 
and offered his services to him. Count Orloff, who 
is the most expert swordsman in Europe, selected 
sabers as the v/eapons to be used. The duel was 
fought in Austrian territory. The American, who 
seems to have a wrist of steel, disregarding all of 
the Count’s fine sword play, rushed upon our coun- 
tryman, beat down his guard, and plunged his saber 
through the Count’s body.” 

“And you saw this same American here to-day in 
Naples?” anxiously asked Madam la Princess. 

“Yes, My lady, I hear that he is here awaiting 
dispatches from his government,” replied the 
servant. 

You may go, Louis,” said the Princess rising 
hastily from the table. For a few moments after she 
was alone, the Russian lady remained still and seemed 
lost in thought; then as she began to pace up and 
down the apartment like a caged leopardess, she 
murmured : 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


^^Oh, that Mortillo had not been killed by the 
explosion of the bomb that ‘Removed’ Peter,” and 
then after a short time spent in profound meditation, 
her fair brows knitting, her fingers tightly clinching 
as she nervously hurried back and forth across the 
room, she exclaimed: 

“Perhaps I can do even better; suppose I can 
make the American kill him. I will try it; it may 
be the best plan. The American may himself love 
the woman. I must meet this Yankee Hercules who has 
once spoiled my plans of revenge, and endeavor to 
make him, himself, the instrument of Vladimar’s 
destruction.” 

* * * * * 

When General Howard arrived in Naples, he 
immediately cabled his resignation to Washington, 
fully resolved to leave the service of the Republic ; 
the reply to his message came promptly from the 
President himself. 

“Cannot accept resignation. Nation needs your 
services; await instructions .at Naples.” 

The Virginian also received the information that 
General Gordon had been ordered to immediately 
prepare his army, except Howard’s cavalry, for 
embarkation, and that a fleet of transports was 
already assembling on the coast of Palestine to con- 
vey the American forces to Turkey. 

Ostensibly as an answer to the Sublime Porte’s 


2S4 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


wrath against America occasioned by the occupation 
of Palestine, but, as Howard knew from what the 
President had revealed to him in Washington con- 
cerning the co-operation of America with Great 
Britain in the East, in reality because the President 
had entered into a treaty of alliance with the 
English. 

Howard’s precipitate action in sending his resigna- 
tion had preceded his knowledge of the orders issued 
for the removal of the Army of the East from Pales- 
tine to Turkey; hence, when he ascertained that 
fact, knowing that an opportunity might be given 
him to meet the Russians as an American soldier, he 
was satisfied that his resignation had not been 
accepted. 

The knowledge of a contemplated campaign in Tur- 
key, occasioned grave doubts in the mind of the Gen- 
eral concerning the truthfulness of the story concern- 
ing a marriage between the Czarovitch and the Presi- 
dent’s daughter ; he could not reconcile the two ideas. 
That one great blessing that did not escape from the 
casket of Pandora, Hope, began to dispel the gloom 
that overcast the soul of the soldier as he recalled 
the President’s words spoken when he was requested 
to assume command of the cavalry in Palestine. 

Howard was aware of the fact that any treaty of 
alliance made by the President would require the 
ratification of the Senate before it could becom.e 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


285 


effective, and he supposed that the President as 
Executive of the Nation, Commander-in-Chief 
of the Army and Navy, intended to place the forces 
of the Republic in a position to act promptly, before 
presenting the treaty of alliance to the Senate for 
ratification. 

The acquiescence of the British government in the 
presence of an American army in Turkey, and the 
fact that British transports were assisting in the 
removal of Gordon’s forces from Palestine to Con- 
stantinople, seemed to prove that, as far as the United 
States Constitution permitted, the President had 
entered into an agreement with Great Britain for the 
co-operation of America and England in the East. 

It was one evening, while the American’s mind 
oscillated between hope and despair, that he 
sauntered into the Casino Cafe, to smoke and listen 
to the sweet Italian music that made the place 
attractive, that the encounter with Count Orloff 
occurred. Howard’s resentment was aroused 
because, first, the President’s daughter was the 
woman he loved, and, next, because as an American 
an insult to the name of the President was an insult 
offered to every individual American. 

Americans may abuse the candidate of the oppos- 
ing political party most villainously before election, 
but the man chosen by the majority as Chief of the 
Nation, immediately becomes an object of respect to 


236 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


all Americans, and, hard as foreigners find to under- 
stand it, a dangerous subject to discuss disrespect- 
fully. 

Old Lord Beresland had lost an arm in the service 
of Good Queen Victoria, while a commander of 
cavalry. The V. C. that the old warrior proudly 
wore upon his breast, was won where danger was 
thickest. He was intensely Anglo-Saxon, and when 
he saw the American officer in need of a friend, and 
heard his words of defiance addressed to a lot of 
foreigners (Americans are never spoken of as 
foreigners by Englishmen) he hastened with the 
undying spirit of his race, old and maimed as he 
was, to the side of the Yankee soldier. 

After the duel, the old English cavalryman and 
Howard became inseparable companions, the Amer- 
ican who was obliged to await in Naples instructions 
from Washington, and the eccentric English noble- 
man, who found the utmost delight in recounting and 
hearing stories of active cavalry life, were most con- 
genial companions. 

Marcello, the famous tenor, was to appear that 
night at the opera house in Naples for the last time 
before going to England, and the notice of that event 
had been sufficient to fill the theatre from pit to dome 
with the wealth, beauty, and la mode of the Italian 
city, resident and non-resident. 

General Howard accompanied Lord Beresland 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


287 


to hear the silver-toned tenor’s farewell song, and 
together they occupied the box of the English 
nobleman. The orchestra had ended the charming 
prelude to the opera, when a commotion in a box 
directly opposite the one in which was seated the 
American General attracted the attention of the 
audience. 

“Princess Gourkoff,” remarked Lord Beresland 
in answer to the inquiring glance of Howard, while 
the brilliant party in the box of the Russian Princess 
was arranging itself to hear, to see, and, (most impor- 
tant), be seen. 

In all the glittering horseshoe that curved around 
the grand theatre, no gem of beauty shone with more 
resplendent brilliancy than the radiant Russian Prin- 
cess. Gowned in filmy lace that fell like waves of 
fleecy snow around her faultless figure, the glorious 
creature seemed to adorn, rather than be adorned by, 
the sparkling diamonds that made tremulous light 
with every movement of her perfect person. 

As the Virginian gazed at the lovely animal, Owen 
Meredith’s poem was forcefully recalled to his mind, 
“her sumptuous regal air, her full white arm,” and 
the idea fitted so well to his own sad thoughts of his 
“lost love” that “it was only a step” in imagination 
from the Princess Gourkoff to “My lady of 
Carabas.” 

The Princess, who for a time monopolized the 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


attention of all those within range of vision, was 
surrounded by a group of gallant courtiers, represent- 
ing almost every nation of Europe, all striving to 
win a glance of favor from the beautiful 
eyes of the magnificent woman. Howard noticed 
among her devoted attendants Count DuBois, the 
titled Frenchman who had acted as Count Orloff’s 
second in the recent duel. 

Count DuBois bent toward the Princess and 
said something that caused that fair lady to immedi- 
ately fix her opera glasses upon the occupants of Lord • 
Beresland’s box. So intent and long was the 
beauty’s scrutiny that the Virginian involuntarily 
removed his gaze from the distinguished party oppo- 
site, and gave his attention to the stage as the curtain 
ascended. 

When the act was ended and the curtain fell, the 
old lord, a devotee of entrancing nicotine, arose 
and prepared to go into the corridor and enjoy a 
smoke. As the Virginian started up to join his 
friend. Count DuBois entered the box, and with pro- 
fuse expressions of apology for the intrusion, said 
that he was commissioned by the Princess Gourkoff 
to do himself the honor of presenting the famous 
American officer to Her Highness. 

Without exhibiting a most boarish disposition, 
there was no escape for the brave Virginian, as dis- 
tasteful as meeting Russians was to him, for the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


239 


whole audience had witnessed the Count’s visit and 
could easily guess its meaning; also, the Princess 
herself was attentive to what was happening in the 
English lord’s box. 

Never, even in her mad infatuation for Vladimar, 
had Princess Vera Gourkoff exercised all the witch- 
ery of her charms to intoxicate the senses of the 
well-sexed masculine beholder as she did in the 
interview when the handsome American was pre- 
sented to her. How the eyes of this Northern 
Venus shot languid, limpid, lascivious glances at the 
splendid sample of manly beauty before her. How, 
by the soft, almost caressing touch of the lace, as she 
drew the light folds by him, to make a place at her 
side for the American, did she strive to cast the spell 
of her magnetic sexuality about the simple-hearted 
soldier. 

How the painted, perfumed, powdered wrecks of 
manhood, wretched specimens, the aged roues around 
her fairly panted with emotion as they watched the 
seductive manner of this maddening, reason-destroy- 
ing temptress, as she sought to ensnare by her syren 
smiles this stalwart son of Mars. 

How liquid, musical and tenderly enticing became 
: the delicious accent of her voice as the nearly 
bewildered Virginian bowed over her hand at part- 
ing, almost drunk with overpowering sensations as 
he breathed the odorous air stealing from her soft 


240 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


tresses, and listened to the urgent pleading of the 
peerless creature that he should visit her next morn- 
ing. The invitation, given so low as to be almost a 
whisper, was so full of untold, beguiling meaning 
that St. Anthony might have trembled had he heard it. 

The American, as in some dream delicious, caused 
by a sense-killing opiate, actually staggered as he 
left the side of the Princess, and nearly bereft of 
reason, cast himself into a vehicle, telling the driver 
to take him quickly to his apartments. 

^‘Washington. 

“Lose not one hour; remove your command from 
Palestine to Constantinople; transports are waiting. 
By order of the President. 

“Cowan.” 

Such were the words of the official dispatch placed 
in the hand of the General, as soon as he reached 
his apartments ; the soldier read them at first automati- 
cally, scarcely realizing their meaning in the mesmeric 
state of his senses, caused by contact with that 
supremest of all mesmerists, a magnetic, lovely, 
passionate woman. 

Devotion to duty is one of the most pronounced 
characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon; it marks the 
difference between him and the Latin. The call of 
duty acts with magical power upon the Anglo- 
Saxon; he can, and will, cast aside the most strongly 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


241 


Stupefying influences and respond with an alacrity 
utterly impossible to the Latin. 

It was a Roman, who, drunk with Egypt’s 
caresses, ‘‘madly threw a world away.” An Anglo- 
Saxon, when duty to home and country called, had 
discarded the infatuating spell of Cleopatra. Men in 
whose veins flow the greatest percentage of Roman 
blood are ever the most easily bereft of reason and 
honor by the intoxication of an illegitimate passion. 

The words of the dispatch, as the American 
I soldier read them, and began to realize their mean- 
ing, acted as a bugle-call to all his half-somnolent 
sense of duty and honor. Like one awakening from a 
dream, the Virginian started from the state of semi- 
stupor that the witchery of the fiendishly beautiful 
Princess had caused to benumb his brains and feel- 
i ings. 

1 Gone! Vanished! Dissipated! Thou fair enchant- 
i ress, art all recollection of thy bewitching glances! 

; The clarion call of Duty has aroused the Anglo- 
Saxon soldier from that sleep that ends in worse than 
death, for the final waking only comes when fame’s 
fair escutcheon is blurred and blotted by the foul 
traces of Dishonor. 

Howard, now alive to the fact that the hour had 
come for that prompt action that the President of the 
Republic expected of him, made hasty preparations 
for leaving Naples for Palestine early in the morning. 


242 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD I 


and was busily engaged in packing up his traps when 
a knock at the door announced some late visitor. In 
answer to his cry of ‘^Come in,” Lord Beresland 
entered. 

‘‘I saw your light burning when I passed by, and 
thinking perhaps I could be of use to you. General, 
inasmuch as you did not return to the box at the 
opera, I stopped to inquire,” said the friendly 
Englishman. 

‘‘I am awfully glad you called, my lord; I was 
just about to write you a line saying adieu. I have 
received instructions from Washington directing me 
to move my brigade of cavalry from Palestine to 
Constantinople, and I sail by the steamer that leaves 
Naples at daylight,” replied Howard. 

The old lord sat down and puffed away at his per- 
fecto for a few minutes in silence, and then 
exclaimed : 

^‘Howard, my yacht is in the bay; let me take you 
over to Palestine. Come, my lad, the ‘Cricket’ is 
the fastest thing that floats in the Mediterranean, and 
will land you at any point you may desire. You 
will give me the pleasure of your society for a few 
hours longer by being my guest on the ‘Cricket,’ and 
at the same time accomplish more quickly the 
journey.” 

“My lord, I am indeed highly honored by your 
generous invitation, but can not permit you to go to 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


243 


I all the trouble and expense of a special voyage 
across the Mediterranean on my account. I ap- 
preciate your kindness, I assure, just the same, 
however,” said the American. 

‘‘Well, General, let me put my suggestion a little 
differently and show you that as an Englishman I 
will be receiving, instead of bestowing, a favor in giv- 
ing you a quick passage to your command. I will 
show you that there is British selfishness in the pro- 
posal,” replied Lord Beresland, pausing while he 
puffed a few moments at his fragrant Havana, as if 
arranging his argument on the subject, and then 
continued : 

“You will understand better the matter, when I 
tell you that I am in close touch with those in 
high positions in the British government. I am in 
possession of facts that lead me to believe that the 
day is not far distant when the question will be 
settled b}^ a clash of arms whether the world shall be 
dominated by Russian or Anglo-Saxon influence. 
England hopes and trusts that the young giant of the 
West, child of her blood and breeding, the American 
i Republic, will be found at her side in the coming 
contest, but the brave old British lion is too proud to 
beg for that assistance that if tendered would be 
most welcome.” 

“I sincerely trust, my lord, that England may not 
be disappointed, when the time comes, by the action of 


244 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


my country,” said Howard, interrupting Lord 
Beresland. 

do not believe that America will be found lack- 
ing in the hour of danger to Anglo-Saxon predomi- 
nance, but the conditions are these, and I know that 
I am accurately informed: Russia is massing her 
forces in the Southeast for the purpose of attacking 
the British in Turkey as soon as spring opens. The 
British government is preparing to meet the conflict 
with Russia, but in the meantime the Russians are 
using every means in their power to array the Turks 
against us. Should they succeed, the contest would 
present a most serious problem ; and in case of such 
an occurrence, the presence of an American Anglo- 
Saxon army on the scene of action would be most 
reassuring and desirable. Thus, you see, my lad, 
as a British subject I am moved by selfish motives in 
offering means to speedily place some of the world’s 
best Anglo-Saxon cavalry in Turkey,” and the 
exultant old eccentric chuckled as he concluded 
what he was sure would prove a clincher to his 
argument. 

‘'But, my lord, even granting all that you offer, 
when our troops arrive on the very field, itself, of 
battle, our hands are tied unless America declares 
war against Russia and we receive orders from 
Washington to participate in the contest,” answered 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


245 


1 the soldier, still hesitating to accept the offer of the 
' nobleman to convey him to Palestine. 

‘^Well!” exclaimed the Englishman w^ith confi- 
dence, Blood is thicker than v^ater, and I believe 
that it would be a bad job holding American soldiers 
I in sight of the slaughter of men of their own blood 
and language, whether orders came from Washing- 
ton or not.” Then, after reflecting a little, he 
added : 

‘T grant you, Howard, the rub is now on the sub- 
ject of the American Senate at Washington. We in 
England feel confident that President Morrison 
approves and favors an Anglo-American alliance, 
and the movement of the army and navy to Turkish 
territory and waters seems to demonstrate it. We 
feel sure that your President desires a union between 
the nations of the Anglo-Saxon race in the interest 
of Christianity, Civilization and Peace. Of course 
the rumor of the marriage of the Czarovitch 
Vladimar and the President’s daughter was the most 
absolute nonsense.” 

'^Do you really think so, my lord?” broke in the 
Virginian eagerly. 

‘‘Pooh! Man, they say that the all-conquering 
i Czarovitch crept out of America in haste, crestfallen 
I and abashed at the rebuff that he received at the 
hands of that splendid republican woman, your 
President’s daughter. If you ever meet Miss Morri- 


246 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


son, Howard, I will give more for your chance of 
winning her as an American soldier, from what I 
hear of the young woman, than I would for the 
chance of a Czar of all Europe,” replied the British 
peer unconscious of the happiness his answer brought 
to the heart of his hearer. 

‘‘But your Senate is a different matter. While 
President Morrison mirrors the sentiments of a vast 
majority of the people of the Republic, and voices 
the opinion of a large majority of your Senators and 
Representatives in Congress, still we in England 
fear that a few Senators, by adopting the dilatory 
tactics allowed by the rules of the Senate, may delay 
and defeat the will of the majority of your citizens as 
well as nullify the efforts of the majority in your 
upper legislative body,” added the old English lord, 
dismissing the subject of the Czarovitch. 

“But, you must remember, my lord, nowhere in 
the world has public opinion so much weight as in 
America, and no minority in the Senate can afford 
to ignore it,” suggested the soldier. 

“Yes, that is true; but Gourkoff, the most crafty 
and unscrupulous diplomatist of modern times, is in 
Washington and will resort to any means, no matter 
how despicable, to defeat an alliance between Eng- 
land and America. He may persuade the few to 
resist the will of the many in the Senate ; however, 
we will wait. Gourkoff understands European 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


247 


politics, but he may make a mistake by using his 
customary methods when dealing with Americans, 
and be hoisted higher than Hamen by his own 
petard,” answered Beresland. 

^‘Well, my lord, under the circumstances, I will 
accept your kind offer most gratefully, but I must 
sail at daylight,” exclaimed Howard. 

‘^Good, my lad, I will dispatch a messenger at 
once to the captain of the ^Cricket’ and at peep of 
day we will be on our way to Palestine,” cried out 
the thoroughly delighted Englishman, slapping 
Howard gleefully on the shoulder. 

‘‘By the way, my bold Yankee knight, you met 
Gourkoff’s stunning wife to-night. Ain’t you 
sorry to leave Naples so soon? I saw she gave you 
a most killing reception. Am I kidnapping the fair 
Russian’s conquest?” rattled away the brave old 
British veteran, as merry at the idea of a sudden 
expedition as the rawest recruit, while he wrote out 
the directions for the captain of his yacht. 

“No, no, my lord, I am glad to return again to 
harness: I have no regret in leaving Naples,” said 
the soldier, and added somewhat thoughtfully: 

“Some situations are more dangerous than the 
most desperately contested battlefield.” 

Alas ! Madam la Princess, for your latest project 
for “Removing” the man who scorned your love 
and your advances. Wasted are your sighs and 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


languorous glances so full of meaning. Useless all 
your stupefying, light, caressing touches. Your 
reason-benumbing magnetic force was fruitlessly 
expended. You must seek other means for 
^‘Removing” the object of your detestation, and re- 
member that an Anglo-Saxon’s sense of Duty never 
slumbers, even in the lethargy that drowns all other 
feeling by the spell your sensual nature causes. 

Fair Naples fades in the distance as the swiftly 
gliding yacht “Cricket” cleaves the dancing water 
of that most interesting of seas, the Mediterranean. 
Lord Beresland and Howard sat watching the dis- 
appearing landscape when suddenly the Englishman, 
who had been most meditative since leaving Naples, 
exclaimed abruptly: 

“By the way, Howard, what kind of man is 
General Gordon who commands the American Army 
of the East?” 

“A fine tactician, very technical and careful, a 
brave and patriotic soldier, rather a martinet in 
matters military. Cold, slow and not impulsive,” 
briefly answered the Virginian, not caring to disouss 
further the character of his superior officer. 

“Bad! Confoundedly bad!” ejaculated the out- 
spoken British veteran, and added, “I served in 
India under just such another and found it horribly 
trying. Will you command the cavalry in Turkey, 
General?” asked Beresland anxiously. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


249 


“President Morrison promised that I should remain 
with the Army of the East until all probability of 
action had passed,” said General Howard. 

“Good! Very good! They say your President 
never forgets a promise, and, Howard, I believe that 
you will witness the deciding struggle that will settle 
the question of race supremacy forever. I hope to 
heaven that in the battle your good arm may be 
with us.” 

“My lord, men of my name have ever felt most 
strongly the ties that bind men to country, home and 
kindred, and should it be in my power to carry 
succor to my English kinsmen, be well assured I will 
prove no laggard.” 

At parting on the shores of Palestine, the British 
peer insisted upon a promise from the Yankee 
soldier, that ere he returned to America, he would 
visit Beresland Manor in England. As Howard 
grasped the only remaining hand of the Englishman 
when saying goodby to him, the maimed warrior 
said mournfully: 

“Had I the other arm, my lad, I would go with 
you, old as I am; I never, even now, hear the 
trumpet that the sound does not set all the nerves 
dancing in my worn-out body.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


Anglo-Saxons, Forward! 

^ REAT BRITAIN had not been unmindful of 
^ the massing of Russian troops along the Rou- 
manian frontier during the winter that Vladimar spent 
in America. Quietly had the Russians concentrated 
a great force along the Pruth, ready for a forward 
movement when the warm spring weather made the 
passage of the mountains possible. 

Relying confidently upon the continued friendship 
of the Turks, and counting upon the co-operation of 
the Army of the Sublime Porte in the coming con- 
test that seemed inevitable, the British government 
had not deemed it necessary to increase the English 
army occupying the territory around Constantinople 
during the winter, beyond a number sufficient for 
emergency, feeling certain that before the Russians 
could make an aggressive movement in the spring 
there would be sufficient time to forward reinforce- 
ments. 

British warships held the Bosporus, the Sea of 
Marmora and the Dardanelles; the, now Admiral 
Sir John Colquitt, commanded the English men-of- 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


251 


war. The American fleet, composed of some of the 
best ships of the Yankee navy, was anchored side by 
side with the British vessels. Admiral Adams, he, 
too, had won promotion, was in command of the 
naval force of the Republic. 

.When General Gordon arrived at Constantinople 
with the American Army of the East, Sir Robert 
Westmorland, who was commander-in-chief of the 
British army in Turkey, requested the American 
leader to quarter his men in the plains of Adrian- 
j ople, as by so doing the crowding of a large force 
in the vicinity of the plague-favored Turkish capital 
would be avoided. 

In that beautiful rose-garden of Europe, the plain 
of Adrianople, was camped therefore, the American 
army when Howard and his brigade of cavalry 
arrived from Palestine. 

The warm sunshine of spring was slow in coming ; 
the passes of the Balkan Mountains were still blocked 
by snow; the British army was calmly resting in its 
cantonments around Constantinople, when like a 
clap of thunder from a clear sky came the declara- 
tion of war by Russia against the British Empire. 

Hardly had the cable brought the warning before 
the British commander heard of the presence of 
Russian soldiers in the Balkan passes. Roumania 
and Bulgaria had acted traitorously and falsely, and 


253 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


permitted the passage secretly of Russian soldiers 
through their territory. 

Undismayed by this unexpected disaster, the brave 
British commander hurried his army to the Turkish 
frontier between Adrianople and East Roumelia, at 
the same time sending urgent appeals for help to 
England. 

As the Russians descended the southern slope of 
the Balkan Mountains, they were met by the advanc- 
ing army of the English, but so outnumbered was 
the British force that after a desperate resistance it 
was forced backward toward the city of Adrianople, 
in the vicinity where the Americans were encamped. 

Around Adrianople Sir Robert Westmorland 
marshaled his inferior numbers; from the British 
ships came the brave blue- jackets to aid the red coats. 
All that military strategy could suggest was accom- 
plished by the British commander in making ready 
for the storm that he knew was approaching. 

The tranquility of the American commander-in- 
chief of the Army of the East, General Gordon, un- 
der the circumstances, and his order for the American 
troops to withdraw from the probable line of march 
of the Russian army, and for them to take position 
to one side of the coming scene of battle, had filled 
the impetuous Virginian with indignation ; in wrath, 
and oblivious to the rules of the military service, he 
sought his superior officer and almost demanded to 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


255 


know what he intended doing when the Russians 
attacked the English army. 

Howard was not more of a favorite of General 
Gordon, than Gordon was of the Virginian ; the men 
were so unlike by nature that there had been con- 
siderable friction between them constantly since the 
coming east of the cavalry commander. 

While your question, General Howard, is hardly 
courteous in its tone, I nevertheless shall answer; 
until I receive orders from Washington, I shall not 
allow the army under my command to take part in 
any contest between the Russian and British armies. 
War must be declared by the United States against 
Russia before this army can aid the English,” 
replied Gordon to the peremptory demand of the 
cavalry officer. 

Without even saluting, Howard whirled around 
and left the tent of his chief. 

Onward came the Muscovy masses from the Balkan 
passes, like the flood that pours down the mountain 
side when the snow is melting. Grimly the thin red 
line of English soldiers was stretched out right and 
left to meet the torrent descending on it. 

The Americans, both officers and men, know a 
battle is impending; troopers grow restless, and 

question *‘Are we to stand here like cowards 

and see fellows who talk as we do slaughtered?”^ 


254 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


Officers become nervous and murmur guardedly 
about ‘‘too much red-tape.” 

General Gordon is flooded by applications from 
American officers, asking for leave of absence for a 
few days “to visit the British camp,” and at last 
Howard flings himself into the presence of the 
Commander-in-Chief and gruffly requests permission 
with some dozen of his officers “to spend a few days 
with the English army.” 

“You can’t go. General Howard,” answered 
Gordon, and seeing the veins of the Virginian’s 
forehead swell as the scarlet tide of anger rises 
beyond control in the cavalryman, who with a stride 
is at the side of his superior officer, he added: 

“General Howard, I will relieve you of your 
command and place you under arrest, if you con- 
tinue to set an example of insubordination in this 
army.” 

“And I tell you. General Gordon,” and the words 
came in tone so deep and low from suppressed pas- 
sion that the sound resembled the growl of an angry 
lion, as Howard said them: 

“That if you force this American army to remain 
idle while our kinsmen are slaughtered, on account 
of your devotion to red-tape rules, knowing that the 
people of America would unanimously endorse your 
action if you, without orders from Washington, per- 
mitted us to aid our brothers, I tell you. General 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


255 


Gordon, that you are a coward, and I’ll answer 
present when and where you may seek me!” and 
with a menacing gesture the hot-tempered soldier 
left his commander. 

Howard was wrong, as men of quick temper and 
impetuosity often are ; Gordon was a good officer, 
by no means a coward, but would take no liberties 
with his orders. Further, Gordon was a just man, 
though a martinet; he understood Howard’s dis- 
position, admired his fighting qualities even while 
he disliked him as a subordinate, he neither relieved 
him of his command nor ordered his arrest. 

Overcome with wrath and chagrin, feeling his 
helpless position, and desperate, the Virginian 
resolved to hasten to Constantinople and cable to 
President Morrison. Fearing that leave of absence 
might be refused him, he determined to leave with- 
out asking. The line of railroad from Adrianople 
to Constantinople being still in control of the British, 
a train within a few hours landed the impatient 
officer in the Turkish capital. 

To his cable message stating the situation, 
promptly came the answer from Howard’s old com- 
mander, now the President of the nation: 

‘‘Wait in Constantinople the action of the Senate; 
I myself will send the notice; I want you personally 
to deliver it to Gordon.” 

Oh! Those fearful hours of waiting; like a caged 


256 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


polar bear Howard paced the cramped-up office of 
the cable company. The horror of waiting in a 
telegraph office while the fearful ticking sends thrills 
of terror through every nerve of the expectant 
listener, is excruciating. Howard was fairly con- 
sumed by the fever of impatience and fear for the 
English soldiers. 

At noon the wire announced that a terrific battle 
was raging around Adrianople; then came a dis- 
patch saying that Turkish forces were uniting with 
the Russians and then the dreaded tidings came flash- 
ing along the wire that one wing of the British army 
had been overpowered, crushed, annihilated by the 
combined forces of the Turks and Russians. 

Then the operator spoke to the excited American,, 
saying, ‘‘This will interest you, General Howard; 
the American soldiers are leaving their lines in spite 
of all that their officers can do to restrain them, and are 
going to the aid of the English.” 

“Would to God I had remained in camp!” 
exclaimed Howard. “By heaven, I would have led 
the revolt,” exclaimed the restless man, whose 
impatience, while waiting word from Washington, 
was rapidly growing unbearable. 

“I can’t call up any station beyond the guarded 
post fifty miles from Constantinople. At the post 
the operator says the Turks have cut the wire beyond 
him, and torn up the railroad track, and that the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


257 


British detachment at the station expect an attack 
upon it,” called out the telegraph operator to the 
American General. 

On this momentous day Washington City wit- 
nessed a scene without a parallel in the history of 
America. For two weeks the Senate had been in 
possession of the treaty of alliance between the 
United States and Great Britain. 

President Morrison, in placing the treaty before 
the Senators for ratification, in a message, had 
clearly pointed out the fact that Great Britain was 
America’s only natural ally, that any circumstance 
tending to weaken the English nation, was pregnant 
with danger to the influence and welfare of the 
Anglo-Saxon race all over the world, and conse- 
quently an attack upon Great Britain was full of dire 
consequences to the Republic as the other great 
Anglo-Saxon nation. 

That with or without an alliance with England, 
the United States could not view with indifference a 
conflict between Great Britain and any other nation, 
when the outcome of such a conflict, if the defeat of 
England was the final result, would be disastrous 
to the Civilization, Commerce and Christianity 
j-0pj*0S0nted by the Anglo-Saxons of the universe. 

That an attack by an autocratic government upon 
the constitutionally ruled realm of the English was 


258 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


an assault upon that doctrine of Freedom and Liberty 
to which the Anglo-Saxon race has ever firmly held. 

In striking at Great Britain, an indirect blow 
was aimed at the venerated institutions of our 
Republic, inherited with our language, and blood 
from liberty-loving Anglo-Saxon ancestors. 

Upon the reception of the treaty and the message, 
the majority of the Senators, irrespective of party 
affiliation, (patriotism confines itself to no single 
political party in America), desired immediately to 
ratify the treaty of alliance and declare war against 
Russia, but the adoption of the time-honored (?) 
senatorial method of filibustering by the minority, 
defeated quick action by the majority. 

Senators Angelo, Pulaski, Rossignol and Gotlieb, 
(encouraged by Prince GourkofT,who was ceaselessly 
striving to delay the action of America until the 
British in Turkey were destroyed) by almost super- 
human endurance talked for hours in the Senate. 
When one of these well-meaning but misguided men 
became exhausted, another of the opponents of so- 
called “Imperialism” would stand ready to continue 
the endless filibustering harangue. 

At the end of two weeks the little coterie of “Anti- 
Imperialism” Senators was broken dovm, worn out, 
fairly overpowered by the execrations of public 
opinion, and the scathing denunciations of the 
majority in the Senate, but still defiant. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FQTURE. 


259 


It was then that Gourkofl, used to Russian 
methods in influencing men’s actions, fearing the 
collapse of the opposition to the proposed treaty, in 
the attempt to stimulate the resolution of the Anti- 
Imperialism Senators, oflered bribes to those honest, 
patriotic but mistaken Senators of the Great Re- 
public. 

An error, fatal to the cause of Russia, was then 
committed by the wily diplomatists; he had mis- 
judged the men and their motives, basing his vile 
opinion on the slanderous statements published in 
reckless public journals. 

Insulted, outraged, indignant, in a body the 
quondam Anti-Imperialism Senators marched into 
the Senate Chamber, boldly stated the attempt upon 
their honor made by the representative of Russia, 
withdrew all opposition, voted to ratify the treaty 
and for a declaration of war against Russia. 

These history-making events transpired in an all- 
night session of the Senate in Washington, while in 
Constantinople, wild with excitement, the impatient 
Virginian waited for the President’s message for 
General Gordon. 

It was four o’clock in the afternoon when the cable 
operator, a little English cockney, (hearts as true as 
steel have those same cockneys), dashed down his 
pen, after taking, while greatly agitated, a long 


260 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


message, and with a leap cleared the office railing" 
and rushed up to Howard, crying out excitedly: 

’Ere it is. General; the H’ Americans are to ’elp 
h’us!” 

Howard gave one hurried glance at the message 
handed to him and said: 

^^Wire in my name to the commander of the post 
nearest to Adrianople, that you can reach, to have a 
horse ready for me; that I bear an all-important dis~ 
patch to the American army. Call up the railroad 
office in Constantinople; tell them to have an engine 
ready in an hour to rush me as far along the line as. 
possible, that the fate of the English army hangs ou 
my prompt arrival,” and then speaking to himself,, 
the American added in a low voice : 

‘H will place this in Gordon’s hands by daylight 
or George Howard will be dead.” 

The insignificant looking little cockney had heard 
Howard’s uttered musings, and on the impulse of the 
moment exclaimed, while tears rolled down his 
honest English face: 

‘‘If you are killed trying to ’elp h’us. General, 
God bless you! H’l thank you as a Briton,” and 
the child of Cheapside grasped the hand of the 
soldier. 

“Report my leaving this point with my dispatch 
to the President at Washington, Captain Martin, if 
you please,” said General Howard as he examined 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


. 261 


I his saddle-girth and prepared to mount for the long 
I ride from the ;^tation, fifty miles from Constantinople 
and eighty from Adrianople. 

‘^General, I will gladly do what you ask, but 
believe me, your attempt will be useless; you will 
vainly sacrifice your life. The road fairly swarms 
with Kurds and irregular Turkish cavalry. Be per- 
suaded to remain here. Your General will act with- 
out orders and save our army, I feel sure.” 

“Thank you. Captain, but I know Gordon — I 
would try to reach Adrianople if the road were lined 
with devils, and if need be, will die trying, as an 
Anglo-Saxon, to aid my kinsmen. Good-by I” The 
last w^ord came as the horse sprang forward, and the 
speaker began the fateful journey. 

Howard, whose duty as commander of cavalry, 
detailed often on scouting service, made it necessary 
for him to know the topography of any country 
likely to be a scene of action, hence on coming to 
Turkey he had informed himself concerning all the 
roads and features of the district between Constanti- 
nople and Adrianople. This knowledge proved of 
inestimable value to him during his ride in the dark- 
ness on his present journey. 

Avoiding the great highways, striking ' across 
country, riding along roads not often traveled by the 
Turkish inhabitants of the section, dashing through 
fields and leaping fences, the experienced Yankee 


262 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


scout and rough rider, unmolested and unchallenged, 
covered the first twenty miles of his journey. 

Knowing that he must husband the strength of his 
horse, when the American came to a small stream 
flowing through a ravine between two hills, he 
stopped and, removing the saddle, rubbed down his 
faithful steed and allowed him time to recover from 
the hard drive that had been given him. 

After a few minutes’ rest, when Howard resumed 
his gallop, and mounted the top of the rising ground 
from the stream, he saw directly in the road a group 
of mounted figures. The hills on either side shut off 
escape right or left; nothing remained but to go 
backward or through or over the party of horsemen 
that stood ready to challenge his further progress. 

The Virginian had abandoned his saber, when he 
sallied forth from the British station, as an incum- 
brance, and was armed only with revolvers, which 
the fear of alarming the district prevented him using. 

Before the Turkish horseman had time to realize 
what was happening, the cavalryman, putting his 
steed to top speed, charged them, striking powerful 
blows with his bare fists as he dashed among them. 
The unexpected and sudden rush of the American 
confused the T urks so much that the daring horse- 
man was enabled to sweep through the party, but not 
without paying toll in the shape of a sword thrust in 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


the side, and a slight wound in the neck from a 
pistol ball. 

On sped the intrepid soldier, bending low and 
urging on his charger heedless of the bullets that 
whistled by him, as the Turks with loud shouts 
pursued him, knowing that his only hope of escape, 
now that the shooting was alarming the whole dis- 
trict, was in distancing his pursuers and the noise 
making. 

The chase was kept up for nearly ten miles, but 
the gallant stallion that Captain Martin had furnished 
the Virginian, proved his breeding, handicapped 
though he was, by the weight of his rider, by outrun- 
ning the Kurdish horses. Howard, congratulating 
himself upon his good fortune, was just pulling up to 
ease his panting charger, when, without warning, a 
volley of rifle fire flashed out from the roadside. As 
the balls whizzed about him, the American felt his 
horse stagger and wildly leap forward. 

The sensation was not new to the veteran cavalry- 
man ; he knew his horse was hit badly, and that all 
that remained to him was to get every atom of speed 
out of the animal quickly before he fell. Gripping, 
with thighs of steel, the panting sides of the noble 
creature, Howard fairly held him up and going, for 
ten miles further; then, in a moment all the strength 
seemed to forsake the frame of the faithful beast; 


264 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


with one shiver and a single, almost human groan, 
the horse fell forward and was dead. 

Where the stallion fell was at the top of a slight 
eminence that had called for the last spark of his 
expiring strength to mount. The Yankee officer 
quickly disengaged himself from the dead com- 
panion of his journey, and stood for a moment con- 
sidering his position. Howard estimated that he had 
traveled forty miles since leaving the railroad ; that 
therefore he must be about that same distance from 
the American army and Adrianople; that judging 
from the position of the stars, it must be about mid- 
night. What to do to cover the remaining forty 
miles by morning was the question. Even leaving 
out of consideration the enemies that stood in his 
pathway, to travel the distance without a horse was 
almost impossible. 

The American knew full well that if darkness 
coming had saved the British army after the battle 
the day before, that with the morning’s light would 
come the final death-blow to the brave survivors of 
the previous day’s disaster; he knew that the order 
he was bearing would save his brother Anglo- 
Saxons, that upon him rested the fate of hundreds of 
his English kinsmen — the thought was agonizing ; he 
stood and gazed in despair at his dead steed and then 
at the distant horizon dimly visible in the star-lit 
distance. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


265 


Years before, at the army posts in Arizona, the 
young Virginia volunteer officer had competed with, 
and defeated, the famed Apache runners in many foot- 
races. The brigadier-general of the American 
army was heavier and less supple than when fresh 
from Virginia he had raced with the savage runners 
of America, but the feeling that the lives of men of 
his race was in his keeping caused him to forget 
impediments like weight and age. Sternly he 
resolved to attempt on foot the journey, and by run- 
ning accomplish the distance. 

Stopping, as best he could with a bandage made 
from part of his linen, the blood that was flowing 
from his side and neck, he seated himself upon the 
body of his dead steed and removed the heavy 
cavalry boots that he wore, knowing that speed was 
impossible while his feet were so weighted, then 
placing his dispatch securely in his tightened belt, he 
discarded coat, hat and revolver, and with shoulders 
thrown back, hands clinched at his breast, this stal- 
wart scion of a long line of gallant Anglo-Saxons, 
shoeless, started over the cruelly rough road to bear 
to the men of England that succor that alone could 
rescue them from destruction. 

Heedless of the bruised and bleeding feet that with 
each step caused excruciating pain, forward raced 
the athletic-soldier, thinking, caring only for the speed 
with which the hours were passing, fearing only to 


266 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD 1 


be too late to aid those whom he would save from 
impending peril. 

After some half dozen miles of awful distance was 
covered, the panting of his lungs and the terrible 
throbbing of his straining heart warned the stern 
soldier that loss of blood from his wounds aijd lack 
of training was telling the story, and’ that, though 
iron-limbed, he must stop and rest or fall exhausted. 

Coming to a brook and finding the bandage at his 
side had slipped and was wet with blood, the gasping 
runner cast himself on the earth beside the stream 
and. thrust his torn and bleeding feet into the cool 
water, and was, while trying to regain his breath, 
readjusting and wetting the bandage when, glancing 
along the path that he must travel, he saw dark 
figures moving and caught the glitter of a distant 
camp-fire . 

Without a horse, without a weapon, wounded, 
worn out and distracted by the thought of the impor- 
tance of his mission to so many, Howard, as he 
gazed upon the camp of those, whom he knew would 
bar his further progress, grew wildly desperate, cast 
about for something to utilize as a weapon, intending 
to make one effort to rush through those who dared 
to block his passage onward, seized a stone and was 
tying it in a strip torn from his garments, when his 
fingers touched the ring given him by Ben Achmid. 

Like lightning flash the recollection of the Arab’s 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


267 


words came to him, ^‘Wherever the Prophet’s name 
is venerated and the Crescent waves” the order, 
called holy by the Arab, extended, and that in need 
or peril the cabalistic signs on the ring would insure 
the wearer friends and help. Those men in front of 
him were followers of the Prophet, and carried the 
Crescent flag. It was a desperate chancel 

‘T will try it; it is the last and only hope. They 
can but kill me. It is my duty as a Howard, a 
soldier of the Republic, and a kinsman of the 
English. 

Like some great ghost from the halls of Walhalla, 
some spirit of a departed Norse Viking, clothed in 
white blood-stained garments came the fair-haired 
Frankish giant into the circle of light cast by the 
Kurdish cavalry’s camp-fire. 

In speechless awe, the followers of Islam gazed 
upon the pale, stern face of the terrifying apparition, 
until coming close to the fire the bleeding, bare- 
footed figure extended its bloody fingers, and held 
forth a ring that the fire light might fall upon it, and 
said hoarsely in the French language: 

‘Hs there one here that can understand me? Has 
this ring and the signs thereon any meaning to you?” 

In awesome curiosity the hesitating Kurds gath- 
ered around the hand extended, and in wonder 
regarded the ring on the blood-covered finger, then 
whispered and muttered words unintelligible to the 


268 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


desperate Anglo-Saxon, except that often they said 
‘‘Ben Achmid,” and with questioning glances 
regarded the almost gruesome figure of the soldier. 

An old man hobbled into the group around the 
American and, after looking at the ring, said in most 
excellent French: 

“What doth thou need? Ben Achmid’s sign is 
honored by all who love the Prophet.” 

“A horse; only a horse,” answered the Anglo- 
Saxon. 

“Art thou English and would hasten to the side of 
thy countryman?” said the aged Kurd. 

“I am an American!” proudly exclaimed the 
Yankee soldier, “but the English are of my race 
and I go to aid them. Give me a horse and every 
aid that the ring entitles me to will be rendered.” 

“Wilt thou not stay and refresh thyself, and bind 
up the wounds that bleed upon thee?” 

“I carry life or death to many. I will not stay 
save to drink of that coffee that boils on yon fire, 
and then away.” 

“Take what horse thou wilt, Ben Achmid’ s ring 
makes thee the owner of all that is here. Disbeliev- 
ing giaour though thou art, know that thou art 
worthy to wear the ring of the most faithful, for thy 
love for those of thy race though not of thy nation.” 

One moment to swallow a cup of scalding black 
coffee, one glance of the experienced eye of the 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


269 


horseman at the Kurdish horses, and the American 
has selected a strong-limbed charger, torn off the 
saddle, avoiding thus every ounce of weight possible, 
and is mounted. One grateful wave of the hand to 
the wondering Kurds, and away speeds the bleeding, 
half-naked American. 

Now, steed of steppes, shalt thou exhibit the 
boasted endurance of thy breed. Never hast thou 
been held between such knees of steel. Distended 
nostrils, panting breath and dripping flanks stay not 
the frenzied rider on thy back. 

When the streakings of the morning light heralded 
the coming day, the wild horseman ten miles from 
Adrianople hears the welcome challenge Halt I 
Who goes there ?” Oh ! The blessed Yankee accent 
of the words 

‘‘General Howard, important dispatches, an- 
swered, never drawing rein, the flying figure. 

“Great God! It’s Big George!” cried the scout, 
and in an instant Hollins is racing at the side of his 
loved commander. 

As they race along making for General Gordon’s 
quarters, Howard gives these orders, ^‘Go to m.y 
brigade, tell Colonel Johnston to be ready, form my 
command, I will be there to lead my men. We fight, 
to-day, the Russians,” and never slacking in the 
killing pace that he is going, the bare-backed, bare- 


270 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


footed Yankee General dashed onward toward head- 
quarters. 

The unconquerable Islanders are drawn up in line 
of battle as over the hills the sun rises. Anglo- 
Saxon pride and Anglo-Saxon breeding holds grimly 
the meager handful of surviving British soldiers in 
defiant ranks, over which float boldly the red flag 
of England; here and there a blue uniform tells 
where stands a Yankee deserter, God bless him! 

The Russians for an hour have hurled shells, 
grape and canister from countless cannon on the 
stubborn red line before them. Now as daylight 
discloses the weakness of those that confront them, 
the Russians mass their cavalry to crush their 
ancient enemies. 

General Gordon, to prevent desertion and mutiny, 
has his whole command under arms and in battle 
array. On a hill near headquarters he views the 
preparations for the coming conflict. Around him 
dark faces, flushed with anger, regard him with 
menacing glances. 

“Find out what that cheering is for?” General 
Gordon said to a staff-officer, as the loud prolonged 
American cheer came rolling along his line toward 
him. Before the officer addressed could gather and 
wheel his horse to obey, the meaning of the cheers 
became obvious, as racmg at a killing pace the 
tattered and disheveled figure of General Howard 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


271 


appeared waving a paper as his horse plunged for- 
ward. With one supreme and expiring effort the 
Kurdish steed breasted the ascent of the hill where 
General Gordon and his staff had stationed them- 
selves, when within a few yards of the American 
commander-in-chief of the army, the willing nature 
of the noble brute collapsed. With a lunge forward 
he fell headlong, carrying down in the crash his 
desperate rider. Officers sprang from their saddles 
to assist the fallen General, but ere they could reach 
him, he was up and running forward, had placed the 
President’s message in the hands of General Gordon. 

In haste the American commander perused the 
contents of the message, and turning to the group of 
officers collected around Howard, he exclaimed 
exultantly : 

“Gentlemen, here is the order for which I have 
waited. I will prove now to you that in heart and 
courage Robert Gordon is an Anglo-Saxon, but, as 
a soldier of the Republic, must have authority from 
his superior, the President, before acting.” 

Then with a reproachful look at the torn and 
bleeding commander of his cavalry, he said: 

“You, General Howard, have done enough; will 
you rest and let Colonel Johnston lead your 
brigade?” 

“No! A thousand times. No! I lead my men 


272 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


to-day if I must be bound to my horse,” hoarsely 
cried Howard. 

“Then, take your command; stop the charge of 
that mass of cavalry that is forming to crush the 
British line, long enough for me to get my infantry 
into position; hold the Russians if you lose every 
man of your brigade!” And turning to the staff 
officers General Gordon gave rapid orders to them 
for the division commanders. 

Now dashing in every direction along the Ameri- 
can line speed the staff-officers. Howard, not heed- 
ing the proffered coats, hats and boots that are 
thrust at him, with eyes fixed on the Russian cav- 
alry forming for the onslaught, seized the hilt of an 
extended saber, and springing upon the horse of an 
orderly standing near, darted away in the direction 
of the spot where his cavalry brigade was drawn up 
and waiting. 

The old Fourteenth and Seventh saw their loved 
leader coming; bleeding, half-naked, all magnifi- 
cent; with a wild yell, half ^^Blue,” half ‘‘Gray,” 
they greeted him, as waving his bare saber raised 
high in his strong, nervous grasp, that all might see, 
he pointed to the plain, and Russian cavalry, 
placed himself ready to lead them, and cried out in a 
voice so grand and sonorous that the three 
thousand troopers heard the words: 

“Americans, charge for race and kindred!!” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


278 


The Virginian, taking in his left hand the flag of 
the Great Republic from the color sergeant, and 
riding well in advance of his galloping squadrons, at 
the head of his brigade, swept into the plain before 
the English line. 

The British cavalry had been cut to pieces in the 
previous battles fought, so that Lord Vinton, its com- 
mander, had only a handful of horsemen to meet the 
Muscovy mass now moving toward the red line to 
annihilate it, but with the valor of Cardigan’s six 
hundred heroes, the English commander had formed 
his few, and was preparing to hurl them defiantly at 
the overwhelming force of Russian horse, when he 
saw the Americans coming, guessing the mean- 
ing, he advanced his command to unite with 
Howard’s galloping squadrons. 

With shouts of relief and joy the scant platoons of 
the English wheeled into position by the side of their 
Yankee cousins. Lord Vinton, (and none are 
braver than some of the British nobility), seeing the 
American leader carrying the colors of the Union, 
grasped the standard of England, and cheering on 
his willing troopers, galloped to the side of the 
valorous Virginian. 

As the two commanders at the head of the united 
forces of England and America rushed forward to 
meet the oncoming Russians, the colors of the 
kindred Anglo-Saxon nations streamed out from the 


274 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


staffs that they carried, and while they fluttered in the 
rushing wind, as their bearer raced onward, they 
twined themselves in loving embrace together, min- 
gling and blending the splendors of the twin symbols 
of a mighty race, — two grand nations. 

The sight of their leaders, their flags, and that 
unvoiced sentiment, that inexpressible something 
that men of our race and language feel when Eng- 
lishmen and Americans act as brothers, aroused the 
wildest enthusiasm alike in the hearts of American 
and English troopers. Like an avalanche of valor 
the allied horsemen crashed into the Russian cavalry 
that rushed to meet them. 

Breast to breast men and steeds wrestle. Cut — 
stab — slash; comes cruelly the whirring sound of 
sabers as they whistle through the air. Shouts, cries, 
oaths and the wild yells of the Yankees all join to 
create sounds of hellish origin and terror. But, Oh ! 
The mad joy of such a fight to the soul of a soldier. 
Shades of Sheridan, Stuart, Custer and Forrest smile 
at the similarity of man’s nature in every age and 
clime. 

Like one possessed of a body charmed and terri- 
ble, the herculean, half-clothed, bloody leader of the 
Americans, bearing down, destroying, all who 
oppose him, rages through the Russian ranks. Hold- 
ing high in one hand the starry banner, never stop- 
ping the awful execution of his dripping saber, he 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


275 


calls to his men to follow, and plunges where the 
steel hedge is thickest. 

Long the awful carnage lasted. Lord Vinton 
has fallen; many brave Yankees have given their 
lives for their glorious nation; many gallant red 
coats dead and trampled lie beneath the hoofs of the 
struggling horses. But nothing in Russian courage 
can long withstand the impact of the blow struck by 
the allied horsemen. 

The Russian mass breaks asunder; rent and torn 
by the impetuous, savage onslaught of the red and 
blue soldiers, the Russians fly toward their batteries. 

In one conglomerate mass, formation gone in the 
struggle, are the British and American troopers, 
Howard quickly resolving to charge the cannon, 
searches an instant for Vinton — vanished, down, 
dead, is that knightly soldier. No time now for 
reformation. Grabbing the British banner and hold- 
ing the flags of the two nations aloft together, the 
American dashed toward the Russian guns, shout- 
ing to the mingled British and American troopers 
that came thundering and cheering behind him. 

‘‘Anglo-Saxons, Onward! America and England 
forever! Onward for our race and nations! 

Right over the guns like a devastating cyclone 
swept the death-contemning cavalry of England and 
America, cutting down the gunners as like a steel 
wave it submerged the batteries. As the line 


276 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


closed Up after the brief pause at the guns, the 
troopers looked in vain for their giant leader. That 
splendid example of Anglo-Saxon valor, endurance 
and war-like spirit had disappeared. Leaderless and 
disorganized the allied cavalry was forced back by 
the advancing infantry of Russia. 

The diversion and delay occasioned by the grand 
charge led by Howard and Vinton, had saved the 
British army and the battle. Gordon had his Amer- 
ican infantry in position in time to meet the Russian 
advance. All that day the plains of Adrianople were 
the scene of a second Marathon. The contending 
lines of the two races, the Tartar-Slav and Anglo- 
Saxon, for many fearful hours swung back and 
forth, struggling in that death-grip that must settle 
for centuries the race supremacy of the universe. 

Just as the descending sun witnessed at Marathon 
the triumph of Greek civilization, culture and courage, 
and the destruction of Persian predominance, and 
presumption, so the parting glance of the monarch 
of the heavens saw on the plains of Adrianople the 
standards of the two powerful allied Anglo-Saxon 
nations flying triumphant over the hard-fought fleld 
of battle. The all submerging, subjecting, Tartar- 
Slav defeated, discouraged, forever halted, ready and 
willing to cry ^^PeccaviP'^ ‘'Forgive and make 
peace with me.” 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


277 


Hov/ard was found, by the Russian infantry, as it 
advanced and recovered the batteries, lying, covered 
with blood, and unconscious, beside the guns where 
he had been struck down, at the moment of his suc- 
cessful charge, by a Russian bullet. He was recog- 
nized as the leader of the desperate charge of the 
Anglo-Saxon cavalry, and hurried to the rear, where 
he was found by the Czarovitch, who commanded a 
corp of the Russian army. 

Vladimar, gratefully recalling his debt to the 
wounded American, commanded that every respect 
and attention be shown the sufferer. That night, 
after the defeat of his army, the Czarovitch sought 
the almost dying Virginian, and while he bent over 
the man who at Gibraltar had saved his life, Vladi- 
mar whispered to the brave soldier of the Republic, 
words that were far more potential as restoratives 
than all the ministrations of the surgeons. 

‘^May I, in your name, my friend, cable to her 
and beg her to come to Constantinople? I will send 
you under a flag of truce into your lines to-night,’’ 
softly said the Czarovitch, when leaving the suffer- 
ing soldier, and added, as he gently pressed the 
Federal officer’s hand, ^‘A Russian remembers.” 

One month has passed, and the rapidly recovering 
hero of Adrianople, half asleep and dreaming, hears 
a rustle in the apartments in the Turkish city, where 
they have placed him, looks up, and standing by his 


278 


ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWARD! 


bedside, wearing that badge dear to the wounded, 
the Red Cross, is a woman. ‘‘Still am I dreaming ?’* 
murmurs the soldier, and struggling to rise, cries, 
“Helen! My Helen!” 

“George! My hero!” came the answer, as the 
arms of the “Red Cross” angel glide around him, 
and press his bandaged head to the gentle, loving 
bosom of the President’s daughter. 

¥:***¥: 

The most exalted royal visitor could not win the un- 
premeditated, spontaneous welcome accorded by the 
people of England to the Hero of the Modern 
Marathon, when with his bride, “Our Helen,” he 
arrived in London en route for America. 

Old Lord Beresland grew younger with the 
pleasure of the coming of “My friend, the gallant 
Howard;” Vintons, Colquitts and the best and 
bravest of Great Britain, vied with each other in 
marking their appreciation of the American’s conduct. 

British royalty, ever gracious, ever anxious to 
acknowledge worth and merit, hastened to extend 
every mark of distinguished attention that gratitude 
and admiration could suggest to the royal family. 

The Imperial Ruler of the British Empire, per- 
sonally, fastened the V. C. on the Yankee soldier’s 
breast, accompanying the act with sincere expressions 
of acknowledgment for those great services that 
entitled the American to wear it. 


A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE. 


279 


Among the gifts that fairly deluged the fair 
bride of the applauded cavalry commander, the one 
that attracted constant attention was the great tiara 
of purest gems bearing a simple card on which was 
written : 

‘‘From your sincere friend, 

Vladimar of Russia.” 


THE END. 


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ANGLO-SAXONS, ONWA! 

A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE,.! 

i 

^ , j . . . BY . . ! 

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Benj. Rush Davenport. 


16mo, cloth, ornamental. Full page half-tone portrait of a 
Postage prepaid. Price, $1.00. Usual discount to the trade. Ad 

THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPAN 

New ' 

Or Publisher, 

HUBBELL PUBLISHING CO., 

Cleveland, Ohio, U. 


“A strong and vivid picture of the glorious future of 
Republic.” — Press. 

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